Ablekuma North Rerun: Police officer who attacked GHOne TV Journalist withdrawn and interdicted.
A police officer has been interdicted after allegedly assaulting GHOne TV journalist Agyekum Banahene at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling Station 2, during the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun.
The incident occurred when Banahene attempted to access the inner perimeter of the polling centre to cover proceedings but was singled out by the officer and asked to leave — even though other journalists were present. “He didn’t ask anybody else to leave but asked me,” Banahene said.
According to Banahene, when he explained that he needed to stay to report on developments, the officer forcibly pushed him and slapped him in the face. “I said no, I can’t go… what if I go and something happens? How do I report?” he recalled. He described the officer’s actions as unprofessional and a threat to press freedom, stressing that “we can’t allow laymen to do this, let alone an officer who knows the law.”
The Ghana Police Service has since released an official statement acknowledging the incident, confirming that the officer has been withdrawn from election duty and interdicted pending investigation by the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB). The statement, signed by ASP Richmond Mensah, assured the public of a thorough probe into the matter.
The rerun was ordered by the Electoral Commission of Ghana in 19 polling stations following irregularities in the December 2024 parliamentary election. The contest features Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie of the NPP and Awurabena Aubynn of the NDC.
