Assault on Journalist at Ablekuma North – Interior Minister breaks silence

The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has promised that the government will take the necessary steps following the assault of a GHOne TV journalist by a police officer during the parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North.

The attack happened on Friday, July 11, 2025, at one of the 19 polling stations where the Electoral Commission was conducting a rerun to resolve disputes from the December 2024 general elections. A viral video of the incident captured the moment the journalist was slapped while covering events at the polling station, sparking public anger and raising concerns about the safety of journalists and the conduct of security officers during elections.

Responding to the incident, Minister Muntaka said the government had taken note of the issue and was ready to act appropriately. “It is not everything that comes to our attention,” he said, “but since this incident involved both a police officer and a journalist, we are happy to intervene. If there is something we need to do, we can assure you that we will do it.”

The Ghana Police Service has already taken steps by interdicting the officer involved. In a statement signed by ASP Richmond Mensah for the Director of Public Affairs, the Police confirmed the officer has been withdrawn from election duties and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for investigations.

The assault has drawn widespread condemnation from media rights advocates and civil society organisations, who are demanding a swift and transparent investigation to ensure accountability. Many have pointed to the increasing number of attacks on journalists as a worrying trend, calling for stronger protections for the media.

The rerun election itself was held in 19 polling stations across the Ablekuma North constituency following disputes over the validity of results in those areas during the 2024 general elections. Despite some early incidents of violence, including this assault, security has since been reinforced, and voting has continued peacefully.