The police officer in the photo slapped a journalist during the Ablekuma North elections

An officer of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) has been held for criminal charges of assault by law enforcement authorities.

He is facing criminal assault charges after being captured in a viral video physically assaulting a media personnel at one of the polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency during its parliamentary election rerun.

He was interdicted and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) for further investigation following widespread condemnation of the incident on Friday, July 11, 2025, and was immediately withdrawn from election duty at the polling station.

This was contained in a police statement signed by Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of Public Affairs for the Greater Accra Region.

“In line with due process, the police officer captured in one of the videos, assaulting a journalist who was interdicted, has been held for criminal charges of assault,” portions of the statement issued on July 17, 2025, said.

Background

The officer went viral on social media for slapping Kwabena Agyekum Banahene, a journalist with GHOne TV (a subsidiary of the EIB Network) while covering the election in an official capacity.

Reports said that Banahene, clearly identifiable in his branded press attire, was covering the event at the Church of Pentecost, North Odorkor Polling Station 2, when he was approached by a police officer who demanded that he leaves the premises.

Despite explaining that he was there as a journalist, the officer threw his hand at him, in what appeared to be a slap to his face.

MAG/VPO

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