Mahama condemns military assault on JoyNews reporter

President John Dramani Mahama has strongly condemned the brutal assault on JoyNews journalist Carlos Calony by armed military personnel during a demolition exercise at Spintex in Accra on Wednesday, 30th July.

Calony, who was on assignment with his cameraman, was attacked alongside an eyewitness while covering the demolition. Their equipment was forcibly seized, and Calony was detained and taken to the “Blue Gate,” a National Security facility. There, he was interrogated and had his mobile phones confiscated. He was later released following the intervention of the Minister for the Interior.

Government officials have since described the military's conduct as unacceptable, sparking widespread criticism from media advocates and civil society groups.

Speaking at the swearing-in of newly appointed deputy ministers on Thursday, 31st July, President Mahama expressed his outrage over the incident and reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to press freedom.

“Allow me to condemn in the strongest terms the assault in the recent incident involving the manhandling of some journalists by our security personnel. Such conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he stated.

The President disclosed that he had directed a full investigation into the incident and called for sanctions against the soldiers involved.

“As a card-bearing member of the GJA, I will not preside over a government that abuses or intimidates journalists in the lawful exercise of their duties,” Mahama added.

In a bid to prevent similar incidents in the future, President Mahama revealed plans to hold a meeting with security service heads and the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

“I will soon convene a meeting with the heads of security services and leadership of GJA to plan a programme to orient our troops to recognise the media not as enemies but partners in development,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Journalists Association has condemned the assault in equally strong terms. In a statement, the GJA issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Ghana Police Service to take decisive action. The Association warned that failure to respond appropriately would lead to a nationwide media blackout on police-related coverage.

The incident has reignited calls for stronger protections for journalists in Ghana, with media rights organisations urging swift accountability and reform within the security sector.