The owner of Class Media Group, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, has strongly condemned the alleged assault of one of the company’s journalists by uniformed personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), describing the incident as “despicable” and a serious stain on the discipline and integrity of the Service.
In a statement reacting to the incident, Alhaji Agongo expressed deep concern over videos circulating on social media which appear to show firefighters in full uniform physically attacking a journalist while he was performing his lawful duties.
“This incident is a blot on the discipline, integrity, and core mandate of protecting lives and property that their training and calling require of them,” he said.
According to him, the conduct displayed in the videos has no place in a democratic society that upholds the rule of law, press freedom, and respect for human rights.
“The videos circulating are simply despicable. They show firefighters, in full service uniform, beating an innocent journalist – a fellow citizen – with rage and fury,” Alhaji Agongo stated.
He assured the affected journalist of the company’s full support, pledging access to the best possible healthcare and legal assistance as efforts are made to ensure accountability.
“Class Media Group will stand firmly behind him to get to the bottom of this matter and ensure that those responsible are duly punished,” he added.
Alhaji Agongo also expressed gratitude to fellow media organisations and members of the public who have condemned the incident and called for justice. He noted that although the silence from GNFS management was “loud enough”, he remained confident that the Ghana Police Service would carry out its mandate professionally.
He therefore called on the police to investigate the matter thoroughly and bring the perpetrators to book publicly.
“This is not just about one journalist; it is about safeguarding the rights of all citizens and preserving Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of press freedom,” he stressed.
The condemnation follows an official police complaint filed by Samuel Addo, a journalist with Class Media Group, who was allegedly assaulted by GNFS personnel while covering a fire outbreak at the Kasoa New Market.
Mr Addo said the incident occurred after he had filed an initial report for a morning show and later went to the fire station to obtain the fire service’s side of the story. While there, he claimed he witnessed officers allegedly assaulting civilians and decided to record the incident.
“I decided to capture the scene,” he told Citi News. “As I was filming, a young fire service person approached me. I introduced myself as a media person, and he walked away. A few minutes later, about 10 of them, including the same officer, came toward me.”
According to Mr Addo, the officers allegedly grabbed his neck, restrained his hands behind his back, and assaulted him. He further claimed that his phone and belt were seized during the altercation.
“They took my phone, tore my belt, and took both away. Later, I realised my bag was open, and upon checking, I discovered that GHS 10,200 was missing from the GHS 20,000 I had with me,” he said.
Mr Addo said his mobile phone was later retrieved and returned through the intervention of the Member of Parliament for the area, Phyllis Naa Koryor. However, the missing cash has not been recovered.
“The money is still missing. I have reported everything to the police,” he said, adding that he has since been issued a medical form and is proceeding to a hospital for treatment.
The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of journalists covering emergency situations and the conduct of uniformed personnel in public spaces. Media advocacy groups and civil society organisations have renewed calls for stronger protections for journalists and greater accountability within the security services.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
