Kasoa Fire Incident: Mahama Interdicts Fire Officers Over Journalist Assault
President condemns attack on media, calls for security agencies to reorient officers on press freedom
- President Mahama has interdicted GNFS officers involved in the assault of a Class Media journalist during fire coverage in Kasoa
- He described the incident as unacceptable and called for the reorientation of security personnel on media freedom and professionalism
- The journalist, Samuel Addo, was reportedly manhandled while covering the Kasoa New Market fire on January 5, 2026
President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that officers of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) involved in the assault of a Class Media journalist during coverage of a fire outbreak in Kasoa have been interdicted.
Describing the incident as unacceptable and unprofessional, President Mahama stressed that such conduct runs counter to media freedom and the standards expected of security personnel.
Speaking on the matter on Thursday, January 8, the President called for the reorientation of security officers, emphasizing that both journalists and security agencies play complementary roles in serving the public.
“There is no way we will tolerate the continued assault on journalists. We have engaged the Ghana Journalists Association and will ensure sustained dialogue with the security services,” he said.
“Security personnel must understand that while they provide safety, journalists also have a duty to inform the public. They are not enemies; they are partners in public service.”
The journalist involved, Samuel Addo, was covering a fire outbreak at the Kasoa New Market on Monday, January 5, 2026, when he was reportedly manhandled by fire service officers who attempted to stop him from filming the scene.
Footage captured showed Addo being pushed amid the chaos, with some officers shouting at him.
The fire reportedly started on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with the GNFS receiving the distress call at 4:50 p.m. The first fire tender arrived eight minutes later, by which time the blaze had already intensified.
