McDan's Warehouse purportedly demolished by GAF

Tensions flared at Spintex in Accra on Wednesday, 30 July 2025, when armed military officers obstructed a JoyNews journalist, Carlos Carlony, from reporting on a controversial demolition exercise and physically assaulted a civilian who was speaking to him at the scene.

The incident occurred during the evening demolition of a structure located next to Action Chapel on the busy Spintex Road, reportedly tied to a legal tussle over land ownership between the McDan Group and the Ghana Airport Company.

At the time of filing this report, Mr Carlony had been detained by operatives of the National Security, who also confiscated his mobile phone. The exact reason for his arrest and the confrontation remains unclear, fuelling concerns about growing threats to press freedom in Ghana.

Eyewitnesses described a tense scene, with multiple excavators working under tight military protection. Attempts by Mr Carlony to speak with local residents were interrupted by uniformed soldiers, who manhandled a civilian engaging with the journalist and forcibly blocked all recordings.

“The soldiers were shouting at the reporter and then suddenly pushed the man who was talking to him. It was chaotic,” an eyewitness recounted.

The structure demolished is believed to be at the centre of a legal dispute between private logistics giant McDan Group and the state-owned Airport Company. Sources suggest that the area, which hosts several showrooms and commercial properties, is under contention regarding rightful ownership.

Several other properties in the vicinity were also affected by the demolition, which reportedly began around 7:00 p.m., catching many occupants off guard.

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and media rights groups are yet to issue formal responses, but the development has sparked outrage on social media, with many decrying the apparent intimidation of journalists and abuse of power.

This latest episode adds to growing unease about the working environment for media practitioners in Ghana. In recent years, there have been multiple reports of journalists facing harassment, assaults, or arbitrary arrests while covering sensitive events.

The obstruction of Mr Carlony while performing his journalistic duties raises serious questions about transparency and accountability, especially in matters involving state agencies and private interests.

Calls are mounting for the National Security Ministry and the Defence Ministry to provide clarity on the incident and to ensure the journalist’s rights are respected. There is also increasing pressure for the release of his phone and an immediate end to such acts of intimidation against the media.