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The West Africa Editors Society (WAES) has raised serious concerns about the safety of journalists and press freedom in Ghana following the alleged unprovoked assault on Solomon Kanaluwe, the North East Regional Correspondent of Media General, by military officers.
In a press statement issued by its Interim President, Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, WAES said Mr. Kanaluwe was detained and subjected to severe beatings, leaving him with lacerations and bodily injuries, an incident the Society described as deeply troubling and unacceptable.
WAES expressed alarm at what it described as persistent attacks on journalists by state security officers, coupled with what it sees as weak or slow responses by authorities to curb the trend.
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“It was barely a month ago that officers of the Ghana National Fire Service assaulted another journalist, Samuel Addo of the Class Media Group in Kasoa,” the statement noted, adding that the matter is yet to be conclusively resolved.
The Society said the latest incident involving military officers further reinforces concerns that journalists are increasingly unsafe while carrying out their professional duties, even in a country widely regarded as a democratic model in Africa.
WAES criticised the handling of cases involving the police, fire service, and military officers accused of arresting, assaulting, or detaining journalists in the line of duty.
“The primary role of state security officers is to protect life and property and preserve the peace,” the statement said, stressing that it is unconscionable for security personnel to assault journalists who are lawfully doing their work.
The Society called on Ghanaian authorities to urgently rein in security officers, thoroughly investigate reported cases, and sanction all those found culpable, regardless of rank.
WAES warned that while Ghana enjoys an enviable reputation locally and internationally for democratic governance and press freedom, the repeated misconduct of state security officers risks tarnishing that image.
“The growing incidents of abuse against journalists are becoming a blot on Ghana’s democratic credentials,” the Society cautioned.
WAES concluded by urging the government and security leadership to act decisively and responsibly to bring an end to what it described as unpalatable and dangerous conduct by state security officers against members of the media.
The Society reaffirmed its commitment to defending press freedom, journalist safety, and democratic accountability across Ghana and the wider West African sub-region.
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