President Mahama Calls for Reorientation of Security Personnel to Better Engage Journalists

President John Dramani Mahama has called for the reorientation of security personnel to ensure they understand the role of journalists and engage with them professionally while performing their duties. Speaking during a visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on Thursday, January 8, he said such training is essential to curb assaults on media practitioners and promote collaboration between security services and the press.
The President condemned recent attacks on journalists and emphasized that both security officers and reporters play critical roles in serving the public interest. He confirmed that the Ghana National Fire Service officers involved in the recent assault of a journalist covering a fire in Kasoa have been identified and interdicted, with investigations ongoing. He also said that the Minister of Government Communication has taken up the issue to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
President Mahama stressed that the proposed reorientation initiative will sensitise security personnel on the importance of working collaboratively with journalists to uphold transparency and public safety. He highlighted that such efforts are crucial to creating a safer environment for media workers to perform their duties without fear of intimidation or assault.
He reiterated that assaults on journalists will not be tolerated under his administration and urged continued engagement between media institutions and security agencies to strengthen mutual understanding and respect.. The visit to GBC, was part of a broader effort to foster dialogue between media institutions and security agencies, reinforce accountability, and ensure journalists can carry out their work without fear.