Editor of state-owned Ghanaian Times newspaper, David Agbenu is calling for adequate security measures in court premises to tackle “barbaric” acts of assault on journalists.

The courts are now becoming “violent”, he told Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s Top Story Monday.

He was responding to attack on his reporter, Edem Mensah at the Circuit Court in Accra where some persons are being tried for their roles in the trafficking of 12.5 kilograms of cocaine to the UK by Nayele Ametefeh.

“This is a criminal case…we have been letting these people off the hook too many times,” he said and warned, “if we don’t take steps to stop such barbaric acts we will continue to be beaten.”

Joy News’ Kwakye Afreh Nuamah who witnessed the assault said Edem was first attacked by three persons who are believe to be related to Nana Akua Amponsah and Sadalia Sandra Nuhu who were being escorted out of court.

A second batch of four men, he said, rushed on Edem and knocked the camera out of his hands. One twisted his hand and another held on to his neck demanding that he deleted the pictures he had taken.

Over ten security officials – police, BNI and prisons – watched unconcerned initially while Edem was being manhandled, Afreh narrated.

David Agbenu later told Top Story Edem came to the office after the incident but “it is not a pleasant sight, you will see his clothes torn; you will see bruises around his arm because he was really manhandled”.

He said a report has been made to the police and “we intend to follow it up”.

Mr. Agbenu asserted, “Security should be provided in such areas because the people we are dealing with are violent… it is backward that journalists are always beaten at the court.”