Mahama orders interdiction of Fire Officers over assault on journalist at Kasoa blaze

President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that officers of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) implicated in the assault of a journalist during coverage of a fire outbreak in Kasoa have been interdicted.

Describing the incident as deeply troubling, the President said the conduct of the officers was unacceptable and ran contrary to the principles of media freedom and professional conduct expected of security personnel.

Speaking on the matter on Thursday, January 8, President Mahama stressed the need for urgent reorientation within the security services to promote better relations with the media. He emphasised that journalists and security officers play complementary roles in serving the public.

“There is no way we will tolerate the continued assault on journalists,” the President said. “We have engaged the Ghana Journalists Association on these issues and will ensure they remain in close contact with the security services.

“Many of our security personnel need reorientation to appreciate that while they provide safety, journalists are carrying out their responsibility to inform the public. They are not adversaries; they are both serving the public.”

The incident involved Class Media journalist Samuel Addo, who was covering a fire outbreak at the Kasoa New Market on Monday, January 5, 2026. He was reportedly confronted and manhandled by some fire officers who attempted to stop him from filming the scene.

Video footage captured by Citi News showed the journalist being pushed amid the confusion, as some personnel shouted at him.

The fire, which started on Sunday, January 4, 2026, was reported to the Ghana National Fire Service at about 4:50 p.m. The first fire tender arrived at the scene eight minutes later, but by then the blaze had already intensified significantly.