The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has given the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces a seven-day deadline to take decisive action against the rising wave of assaults on journalists or face sweeping sanctions, including a nationwide media blackout on all police-related activities.
The warning follows a series of violent attacks on media professionals, the latest occurring on July 30, 2025, during a demolition exercise at Spintex in Accra.
JoyNews reporter Carlos Carlony, and an eyewitness were allegedly assaulted by armed military personnel while covering the incident.
Similar incidents have been recorded this year, including the assault of a GHOne TV reporter during the Ablekuma North by-election, violence at the Council of State elections in the Ashanti Region in February, and clashes on May 27 during an NPP protest over the detention of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako.
At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour described the spate of attacks as unacceptable and warned that media houses will boycott police coverage if immediate steps are not taken.
“If the Ghana Police Service fails to act decisively within the next 7 days, the GJA, in consultation with key stakeholders, will announce a nationwide media blackout on all police activities. We will instruct our members to withhold coverage of police events and editorial engagements,” Mr. Dwumfour declared.
He stressed that the measure was not a threat but a necessary safeguard.
“This is not a threat; it’s a necessary action to defend the integrity and safety of every Ghanaian journalist,” he said.
Turning his attention to the military, Mr. Dwumfour demanded accountability for the Spintex assault, insisting that failure to discipline the officers involved would have “damning consequences.”
“The military should understand that failure on their part to expose and sanction the perpetrators will embarrass them. We are not just serving notice — we are prepared. If you fail to do so, we shall come out boldly and expose your men,” he cautioned.
In response, the Ghana Armed Forces confirmed it has launched internal investigations into what it described as “inappropriate conduct” by its personnel.
