The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has launched investigations into the conduct of some of its personnel following an incident of assault on a JoyNews team and an eyewitness during the demolition of a facility around Spintex in Accra on July 30.

In a statement issued by the Department of Public Relations at its General Headquarters in Burma Camp, the Armed Forces said the probe was initiated in line with a directive from the Presidency.

According to the GAF, the investigation seeks to address what it described as the “inappropriate conduct” of certain soldiers during an encounter with members of the media.

“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to assure the general public that the investigations will be thorough and those found culpable will be dealt with accordingly,” the statement read.

The GAF reiterated its commitment to professionalism, noting that it is doing everything possible to maintain its high standards of conduct.

Background

Armed military officers on Wednesday, July 30, obstructed JoyNews reporter Carlos Carlony from covering a demolition exercise at Spintex in Accra and physically assaulted a civilian who was speaking to the journalist at the scene.

At the time of filing this report, Mr Carlony had been taken into custody by operatives from the National Security, and his mobile phone confiscated.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News after his release, Mr Carlony narrated that the incident started while he was interviewing an eyewitness at the scene.

“We got there before the military arrived and I was speaking to an eyewitness who had witnessed the demolition. From nowhere, we heard sirens coming, and the military just stormed the place and interrupted me during the interview,” he recalled.

He explained that the soldiers questioned why he and his crew were filming. Carlos said he calmly informed them that they were journalists there to report the story.

“I told them we were journalists just telling the story. Beyond that, I tried to speak to the head of the team to let him understand that we were on the grounds to report,” he said.

Mr Carlony recounted that just as he was preparing to go on air and speaking with his producer, one of the soldiers approached him from behind.

“Around that time, we were to go on air, so I was speaking to my producer. And in the process of talking to my producer, another military man from behind said it seemed I was filming and so he punched me from behind, two direct blows to my neck,” he stated.

“At that point, I lost control and almost fell down.”

According to him, after the assault, the soldiers informed him that he was being taken away. He was forced into a vehicle along with the Group CEO of McDan and three others and driven to the National Security Headquarters.

“After all these things happened, they now said I would be arrested, and they pushed me into the vehicle together with the Group CEO of McDan and three others to the National Security Head Office,” he explained.

“They kept us there for about 45 minutes. They came in, monitored the room, and asked me questions. I told them I was from JoyNews. At this point, they had taken our phones and went through them.”

He added that he was asked to write a statement, but he insisted on hearing from his boss first.

“They asked me to write a statement, and I told them I had to hear from my bosses before we take it from there,” he said.

“Briefly, that was what happened. There was no confrontation at all. We were actually filming when they came in and assaulted me.”

Read the full statement below