President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, held a press conference at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, to address a disturbing surge in attacks and threats against journalists across the nation. Mr. Dwumfour unequivocally stated that journalists must not be subjected to inhumane treatment and demanded immediate, decisive action against perpetrators, stressing the paramount importance of protecting media practitioners in the course of their professional duties.

The Association specifically condemned an unprovoked assault on Mr. Solomon Kwame Kanaluwe, Media General's North East Regional Correspondent and GJA North East Region Secretary, by military personnel in Walewale on Sunday, January 26, 2026. Mr. Kanaluwe was allegedly beaten with sticks and canes, detained, and had content deleted from his phone after being questioned about his motorcycle, even after identifying himself as a journalist. The GJA President called for the swift investigation, arrest, and prosecution of the military officers involved, expressing frustration over what he described as a pattern of military inaction, citing a previous pending case involving Joy FM journalist Carlos Calony, who was assaulted on July 30, 2025, and for which assurances of updates were not kept.

In another critical update, the GJA acknowledged and welcomed His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama's intervention regarding the brutal assault on Class FM reporter, Mr. Samuel Addo, by Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) officers at Kasoa, which led to the interdiction of the officers involved. However, the GJA expressed deep concern over the “deafening silence” of the GNFS leadership, who have failed to publicly brief the nation on the status of internal investigations into the incident. The Association issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Ghana National Fire Service Administration to publicly release its investigation findings, outline specific actions taken against the officers involved, and detail institutional measures being put in place to prevent future attacks, warning that any further silence would be interpreted as complicity and an attempt to shield wrongdoing, potentially leading to blacklisting. The GJA also re-echoed its demand for the removal of the GNFS PRO, deeming their interactions on the case as evidence of unfitness for the communication role.

The GJA also strongly condemned the violent assault on UTV and Peace FM Eastern Regional Correspondent, Mr. Michael Akrofi, by a police officer stationed at the Tafo–Kukurantumi Formed Police Unit (FPU) base in the Eastern Region on January 8, 2026. Mr. Akrofi was allegedly strangled three separate times and threatened while lawfully covering a demonstration by farmers, sustaining injuries that required medical attention. The GJA demanded the immediate identification, arrest, and prosecution of the police officer involved, stressing that such acts are barbaric, unprofessional, and criminal, requiring judicial action beyond mere internal disciplinary measures. The GJA noted this incident had “dented” its newly cordial relationship with the Ghana Police Service.

Furthermore, GJA President Dwumfour raised grave alarm over death threats, incitement to violence, and imminent attacks targeting journalists covering the protracted Bawku conflict in the Upper East Region, specifically mentioning the Upper East Regional Chairman of the GJA, Mr. Albert Sore. Journalists have been openly labelled