The Chief Executive Officer of Class Media Group, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, has strongly condemned what he described as a “despicable and disgraceful” assault on one of the company’s journalists by uniformed personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), calling the incident a stain on the integrity and core mandate of the Service.
Speaking on the matter, Alhaji Agongo expressed deep concern over the attack, stressing that the conduct of the officers involved fundamentally contradicts the discipline, professionalism, and responsibility expected of a state security institution tasked with protecting lives and property.
“This incident is a blot on the discipline, integrity, and the core mandate of protecting lives and property that their training and calling require of them,” the Class Media CEO stated.
According to him, video footage of the incident currently circulating on social media is deeply disturbing and unacceptable in any democratic society. The footage allegedly shows GNFS personnel, in full uniform, physically assaulting an unarmed journalist who was lawfully performing his professional duties.
“The videos are simply despicable. They show firefighters, in full service uniform, beating an innocent journalist – a fellow citizen – with rage and fury. Such conduct has no place in a democratic society that values law, order, and press freedom,” Alhaji Agongo said.
He assured the affected journalist of the company’s unwavering support, both medically and legally, emphasizing that Class Media Group will exhaust all legitimate avenues to ensure justice is served.
“Let me once again assure our reporter, the victim, of the best possible health care and legal support. Class Media Group will stand firmly behind him to get to the bottom of this matter and ensure that those responsible are duly punished,” he added.
Alhaji Agongo also expressed gratitude to fellow media organizations, civil society groups, and concerned Ghanaians who have publicly condemned the attack and demanded accountability from the Fire Service.
“We thank our fellow media houses and all well-meaning Ghanaians for calling out the Fire Service on this matter,” he noted.
However, he described the silence from the leadership of the Ghana National Fire Service as troubling, warning that failure to act decisively could further erode public confidence in the institution. Despite this, he said Class Media Group remains hopeful that the Ghana Police Service will act professionally and independently.
“The silence of the Fire Service’s management is loud enough, but we are assured that the Ghana Police Service will live up to its mandate,” he stated.
The Class Media CEO consequently called on the Police to conduct a thorough, impartial investigation and ensure that the perpetrators are prosecuted openly to serve as a deterrent.
“We call on the Ghana Police Service to investigate this incident dispassionately and bring the perpetrators to book publicly,” he said.
Alhaji Agongo stressed that the incident goes beyond an attack on a single journalist, warning that unchecked brutality against media practitioners poses a grave threat to civil liberties and Ghana’s international standing.
“This is not just about one journalist—it is about safeguarding the rights of all citizens and preserving Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of press freedom,” he concluded.
The assault has reignited national debate over the safety of journalists in Ghana and the urgent need for security agencies to respect press freedom and the rule of law.
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