By Daniel Bampoe
A police officer has been interdicted and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for disciplinary action after he was captured on video physically assaulting a GHOne TV journalist during the highly charged parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency.
The officer, whose identity has not yet been made public but a name tag suggested Donkor was seen in a viral video aggressively confronting Agyekum Banahene, a journalist with GHOne TV, at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling Station 2.
The footage sparked widespread condemnation and raised renewed concerns over the safety of journalists and the conduct of security forces during elections.
In a statement signed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Richmond Mensah on behalf of the Director of Public Affairs, the Ghana Police Service confirmed the interdiction of the officer involved.
He has since been withdrawn from election duties and is currently under internal investigation by the PPSB.
“The officer concerned has been withdrawn from the ongoing election duty at Ablekuma North and, in line with internal disciplinary procedures, has been interdicted and referred to the PPSB for investigation,” the statement said.
The Service assured the public of a thorough and impartial probe into the incident and pledged to provide updates as the investigation progresses.
The incident occurred in the context of an already tense and violent election rerun, marred by disturbances and physical confrontations.
Earlier in the day, a group of unidentified macho men stormed the St. Peter’s polling centre, attacking political figures including New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Nana Akua Afriyieh and former Fisheries Minister Mavis Hawa Koomson.
Eyewitnesses described the invasion as coordinated and violent, leading to temporary suspension of voting activities and panic among voters and officials.
The Electoral Commission was compelled to rerun the parliamentary election in 19 polling stations within the constituency following a prolonged legal and political dispute over the results of the December 7, 2024, general election.
The constituency has been without a Member of Parliament since last January, deepening the stakes for this rerun.
Despite heightened security deployment in the area, multiple incidents of violence and misconduct by both unknown civilians and some officers were reported, undermining confidence in the electoral process.
The journalist, Agyekum Banahene, later expressed fears for his safety, saying in an interview that he felt “threatened” and “targeted” while trying to carry out his reporting duties.
“I feel threatened; my eyes are shaking,” Banahene told GHOne. “I was only doing my job as a journalist and did not provoke anyone. I didn’t expect this kind of treatment from someone who is supposed to protect us.”
His remarks have added fuel to calls for reforms within the Ghana Police Service to better protect journalists and ensure accountability among officers deployed for electoral duties.
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), in a statement, has called on the Inspector General of Police to not only ensure swift justice in this matter but to also take concrete steps to prevent future occurrences of media harassment.
This latest development adds to the growing controversy surrounding the Ablekuma North rerun, which has also been shadowed by internal party conflicts. Notably, the NPP had announced a boycott of the poll, yet its candidate, Nana Akua Afriyieh, defied the directive and participated actively.
