By Prince Ahenkorah
In a shocking display of political thuggery, a JoyNews reporter, Latif Iddrisu, was violently assaulted and threatened with death by supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) outside the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) headquarters.
The incident unfolded amidst a chaotic scene following the arrest of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Wontumi’s arrest sent NPP sympathizers into a frenzy, with hundreds converging on the EOCO premises, vowing to remain until their chairman was released.
It was during this volatile standoff that Latif Iddrisu, in the line of duty, became a target.
Despite the presence of police officers, the reporter was set upon by angry NPP loyalists while delivering a live report.
Iddrisu, visibly shaken but maintaining his composure, described the ordeal during his broadcast: “largely, calm has been restored in the EOCO building.
The situation, largely calm, has been restored and still, some of the party supporters are being violent and you can see that on your screen; the verbal assaults after the physical assaults.”
As he spoke, party members surged towards him, spewing insults and threats. One individual confronted him on camera, questioning the assaults he had endured. Iddrisu calmly responded that the language used was too indecent for television.
Even as some NPP members tried to restrain their more aggressive counterparts, the threats continued.
One particularly unhinged supporter branded Iddrisu a “dangerous character” who “should not be in the media.”
The situation escalated dramatically when an unidentified NPP member, amidst the cacophony of insults, chillingly shouted at Iddrisu, “Today is your last day.” The ominous threat was reportedly repeated three times, leaving no doubt about the intention behind the words.
It appears the NPP supporters were incensed by Iddrisu’s unflinching reporting of the events unfolding around Wontumi’s arrest.
In the aftermath of the shameful attack, the NPP has issued an apology to the Multimedia Group, employers of Latif Iddrisu.
Meanwhile, Evans Mensah, Senior News Editor at JoyNews, confirmed that the company has filed an official complaint with the Ghana Police Service, vowing that they will not take the matter lightly.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers journalists face in Ghana when reporting on politically charged events, and highlights concerns about the safety of media professionals in the country.