The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has strongly condemned the assault and detention of two JoyNews journalists, Carlos Calony and Jonas Dodzi Voegborlo, by Ghana’s National Security operatives during a news assignment in Accra.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 30, while the journalists were covering the demolition of a warehouse reportedly linked to the McDan Group at Spintex. According to Calony, he was interviewing an eyewitness at the scene when soldiers arrived and questioned their presence. Despite identifying themselves as journalists, Calony was punched in the neck from behind, while Voegborlo was also assaulted, and their equipmentwas forcefully seized.
Speaking to JoyNews, Calony recounted the moment he was attacked: “Around that time, we were to go on air, so I was speaking to my producer. In the process, another military man from behind said it seemed I was filming, and he punched me from behind—two direct blows to my neck. I almost fell.”
Both journalists, along with three other individuals and the eyewitness, were detained and transported to the National Security Secretariat, where their phones were searched for video footage. Calony was later released after 45 minutes but is currently receiving treatment for neck injuries at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).
“This is unacceptable,” Calony told the MFWA during a phone interview. “We were beaten for simply doing our job.”
The MFWA has decried the incident as a gross violation of human rights and press freedom guaranteed under Article 162 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. The Foundation also noted the contradiction between this violent crackdown and President John Mahama’s recent call for African leaders to uphold press freedom during the 13th High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance in Addis Ababa.
“This latest assault flies in the face of President Mahama’s appeal for democracy free from fear and repression,” the MFWA said.
This marks the second attack on journalists by security operatives in less than a month, raising alarms about an apparent trend of hostility toward the media. The MFWA welcomed the Presidency’s swift condemnation and call for investigations, but urged the Minister of Defence and the National Security Coordinator to ensure a transparent inquiry and appropriate sanctions.
“The increasing impunity with which security operatives trample on constitutional rights and the dignity of citizens must end. The government must take urgent steps to rein in these excesses,” the MFWA stated.
The Foundation reiterated its commitment to defending press freedom and called on civil society, the media, and the public to demand accountability and justice for the assaulted journalists.
