By Nelson Ayivor
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is facing a severe credibility crisis following the violent assault of a journalist at the Kasoa New Market.
Sulemana Braimah, the Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has issued a blistering condemnation of the institution, describing the conduct of its personnel as reminiscent of “rogues and yo-yo boys.”
The incident, which occurred on Monday, January 5, 2026, has ignited a national conversation regarding the safety of media practitioners and the perceived culture of impunity within the nation’s paramilitary agencies.
“Initially, we were told that what happened was not an assault but an attempt to seize the phone of the journalist, because the journalist was recording an incident without permission, and quite clearly, that even made matters worse for me.
“I told myself, well, perhaps I was wrong in my long-held assumption that the Ghana National Fire Service is a professional institution, because I don’t think any professional institution would have its personnel conduct themselves in the manner that we all saw in the video”
The victim of the assault, Samuel Addo of Class Media Group (CMG), was reportedly beaten to a pulp while documenting the aftermath of a devastating fire that ravaged over 100 stores. According to eyewitness accounts and viral video footage, Addo was filming a confrontation between fire officers and civilians when the personnel turned their aggression toward him.
Despite identifying himself as a member of the press, the officers allegedly pinned him by the neck and struck him repeatedly with fists and fire helmets. The assault resulted in significant physical and financial loss for the journalist. Addo claims that during the struggle, his clothing was torn and he lost GHS 10,200 from a bag he was carrying.
The brutality of the attack has drawn sharp criticism from civil society organizations, who argue that the GNFS has strayed far from its professional mandate. Sulemana Braimah, a veteran advocate for press freedom, expressed deep disappointment not only in the assault itself but in the service’s initial attempt to justify the actions of its men.
The GNFS Public Relations Officer, DOII Desmond Ackah, reportedly claimed the incident was an attempt to seize a phone being used to record without permission. Braimah argued that this defense demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the law and the rights of journalists in public spaces.
Braimah compared the behavior of the fire officers to mob justice, suggesting that the institution is currently housing individuals who behave more like street brawlers than disciplined public servants.
Braimah’s critique highlighted a growing concern that state institutions are becoming increasingly hostile toward transparency. By attempting to prevent the recording of a public emergency, the GNFS has raised suspicions about its conduct during the Kasoa fire.
“I can only hope that the leadership of that institution would take the appropriate actions to redeem itself. Impunity begets impunity. If this incident is swept under the carpet, even worse violations against the media will follow in the future.
“We cannot allow a situation where those paid by the taxpayer to protect us become the very ones who terrorize those documenting their work.”
The calls for accountability have been echoed by various media unions, who are demanding a full investigation and compensation for Samuel Addo.
As the GNFS leadership deliberates on its next steps, the spotlight remains on whether the service will opt for internal discipline or allow the matter to be settled through the judicial system. Braimah maintained that without a transparent process, the reputation of the Ghana National Fire Service will remain permanently scarred.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks journalists face in the line of duty. For the MFWA, the case of Samuel Addo is not just about an individual assault, but about the preservation of the democratic space in Ghana.
As the public awaits a formal disciplinary report, the message from the media fraternity is clear: the era of rogue institutional behavior must come to an end.