The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has vehemently condemned the physical assault of three journalists covering the parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency of the Greater Accra Region on Friday, July 11, 2025.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of violence against media professionals in Ghana, raising serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists, particularly during electoral processes.
Kwabena Agyekum Banahene of the EIB Network, Salomey Martey of the Multimedia Group, and Vida Wiafe of Amansan TV (ATV) were all victims of the assaults, which occurred while they were reporting live from polling stations within the constituency.
The nature of their injuries or the specific identities of their attackers were not immediately detailed by the MFWA, but such incidents often involve political party adherents, vigilante groups, or even security personnel.
The MFWA’s strong condemnation comes amidst growing anxieties over the safety of journalists in Ghana, a country once hailed as a beacon of press freedom in Africa.
Just five months prior, in February 2025, five journalists were assaulted while covering the Council of State elections in the Ashanti Region.
These attacks, which saw some journalists brutalized and their equipment confiscated or damaged, highlighted the persistent threat faced by media practitioners.
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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the MFWA both called for swift investigations and accountability in those cases, emphasizing that such impunity only emboldens perpetrators.
Previous election cycles have also been marred by similar acts of violence. The 2020 general elections, for instance, saw multiple journalists attacked, threatened, and even shot, as reported by organizations like Civicus Monitor and the MFWA.
Incidents ranged from physical assaults at collation centers to attacks by political party supporters at party headquarters and even online threats. These events underscore a recurring vulnerability for journalists in Ghana’s highly charged political environment.
As the Ablekuma North rerun elections concluded, the MFWA issued a fervent call to all stakeholders. “The MFWA calls on both state and non-state actors involved in the Ablekuma North parliamentary election rerun to exercise restraint, uphold the rule of law and respect the rights of all stakeholders, especially the media who are fundamentally carrying out their duties to inform Ghanaians and the rest of the world about the entire process,” the Foundation stated.
This latest incident in Ablekuma North serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust measures to protect journalists and ensure they can perform their essential democratic function without fear of reprisal.
Without concrete action to investigate these attacks, prosecute perpetrators, and dismantle groups that instigate violence, the gains made in Ghana’s democratic credentials risk being eroded by a culture of impunity against the press.