Former Okaikwei North MP, Issah Fuseini, has voiced strong support for the Ghana Journalists Association’s (GJA) decision to impose a blackout on the Ghana National Fire Service following the assault of a journalist by fire service personnel.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, January 29, Issah emphasised the need to protect media independence and hold accountable anyone who threatens or harms journalists in the line of duty.
The media is something that I hold sacrosanct, and when these issues come up, they should be investigated thoroughly, and anybody found culpable should be held responsible,” he said, adding that the GJA’s action to suspend interactions with the Fire Service is “in the right direction” until the matter is resolved.
Issah urged that professional associations like the GJA be protected from political interference and maintained that anyone who attacks or abuses journalists must face accountability.
“We have come a long way, and we should protect the people,” he said, underscoring the importance of safeguarding press freedom.
The GJA on Wednesday, January 28, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Fire Service, demanding the public release of findings from its investigation into the assault and details of any actions taken against the officers involved. The association warned that failure to comply could lead to drastic measures, including blacklisting the service.
The incident stems from an assault on Samuel Addo, a journalist with Class Media Group, who was reportedly attacked by fire service officers while filming a fire outbreak at Kasoa New Market in the Central Region on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Video footage circulating online shows Addo being manhandled amid a chaotic scene, with officers allegedly shouting at him to stop filming.