Police in the North East Regional capital of Nalerigu, has begun an investigation into an assault on a journalist who was covering New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s parliamentary primaries on June 20.

After nearly a week of back and forth with the police officers at the regional station last Friday, finally issued a police form to the reporter, who was allegedly injured in the attack.

"The police form was issued to me and the medical officers have signed it, and I have taken it back to the police officers," Macbadara Romanus told Joy News the latest development on the issue in an interview.

Even though the incident occurred right behind of the police station, the journalist initially encountered a series of difficulty in seeking to officially report it to the police.

It took public pressure from callers on a local radio station and opposition political parties' support to force the police to act on the matter.

According to Mr Romanus, who works with Tizaa FM, until last Friday has not been able to seek treatment at the hospital treatment because the police had allegedly refused to issue a medical form.

He said he has so far relied on prescriptions from chemist to treat his injuries.

The reporter, said he was physically abused by a member of a group believed to be NPP thugs allegedly brought in by the District Chief Executives from the Northern Region.

The thugs he said had came to support their boss, the Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Alimah Mahama.

The reporter said the incident occurred at the party office where a near violent confrontation ensued between the NPP regional chairman, Nurudeen Fuseini, and a campaign team member of an aspirant, Dr Mohammed Sampah.

"I was assigned to go and cover the program on day of the primaries. In the process of doing my work, there was a confusion between one of aspirant's agent and the NPP thugs and they were beating him at the polling station.

"So, they thought we were taking coverage of it and the Sagnarigu DCE ordered the guy to seize my phone. The guy came and started assaulting me and people had to come to my rescue and I was saved," Mr Romanus said.

According to the reporter, he was shoved to the ground amidst kicks and punches and his phone seized and taken away by his attacker.

"I felt pains in my jaw and then around my neck, so I have to rush to the hospital for medical care. I got there and I was asked to go back to get police form before they can treat me," the reporter said.

According to him, his phone was retrieved upon the intervention of the NPP Regional Communications Director, Amos Walibe, but then all footages had been deleted after he was forced to give the password to his phone.

Attack on Tizaa Radio and its workers Tizaa Community Radio until late last year was the only radio station in the Nalerigu area and its environs.

The station for years has been operating in the area without any issues until the establishment of a radio station by a relative of the Local Government Minister.

According to the owner, a private businessman and his staff, they have recently been facing what they describe as sabotage and intimidation by individuals and groups associated with the governing New Patriotic Party and its government.

Last year, a group alleged to be military officers raided the station and confiscated some equipment and the station was shut down briefly following a yet to be disclosed allegations against its owner.

Ahead of the primaries, the station had been instrumental in providing a platform for opposition aspirants and their team members which angered supporters of the incumbent MP's supporters.

The radio station provided the platform for a controversial interview which resulted in the disqualification and dismissal of an aspirant from the party for accusing the incumbent MP and some executives of the party of electoral fraud and fertilizer smuggling, respectively.

Mr Romanus who conducted the interview happens to be the one who was allegedly attacked the thugs. The reporter claims, prior to his attack, he had been tagged by some supporters of the incumbent MP.

NPP Communication Director condemns attack Though the New Patriotic Party team in the Region is yet to comment on the matter even after the executives having been notified on several times, the party's Communication Director has condemned the attack.

Amos Walibe who assisted the journalist to retrieve his seized phone assured that the party would fully assist the police to investigate the criminal act.

Sagnarigu MCE is known for ordering attacks on journalists. The Sagnarigu Municipal Chief Executive, Marian Iddrisu, who allegedly ordered the attack on the journalist was not available to comment.

However, she is said to have a longstanding history of despising reporters and media organisations. In 2018, she sacked and threatened journalists who were at her office to cover a planned protest by Persons Living with Disabilities.

She developed the troubling relationship with the press whom she accused of targeting her regime with negative publicity - in 2017 after she survived impeachment intent by the Sagnarigu Assembly members.

The MCE was not available to comments on these latest allegations.