By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has assured the Police administration of its readiness to cooperate fully with the Ghana Police Service to investigate an assault meted out on a Class Media Journalist.
In a statement issued on January 5, 2025, the GNFS assured the public of its full cooperation with authorities to establish the facts.
The GNFS statement was a response to a viral video showing a Class Media reporter being assaulted, allegedly by GNFS personnel, leading to the insistence by the Fire service officials to cooperate fully with police to establish the facts.
The journalist was seen in the video being physically confronted by some fire service officers who allegedly tried to prevent him from filming the scene on Monday, January 5, 2026. A video circulating online shows Addo being manhandled amid a chaotic scene, with some personnel shouting at him and other hitting him with a hard hat.
The Service clarified that the video captures an altercation between firefighters and a suspected thief, who, along with accomplices, had attacked personnel at the fire scene.
“Management of the Service has constituted a committee to investigate the incident thoroughly and establish all relevant facts,” the statement said.
The Service urged the public to remain calm and exercise restraint while investigations are ongoing.
The GNFS further stated that while it condemns attacks on its personnel, it equally frowns upon any physical or verbal assault on civilians by its staff, regardless of provocation.
“GNFS remains committed to professionalism, accountability, and transparency in the discharge of its mandate and will continue to cooperate with the media and relevant authorities to ensure accurate public information,” the statement added.
A fire broke out at Kasoa New Market broke on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
According to the GNFS, a distress call was received at 4:50 p.m., and the first fire tender from the Kasoa Fire Station arrived eight minutes later, by which time the fire had reached an advanced stage. The assault incident occurred as an aftermath of the Fire services work in that fire incident.
Read the statement below by the GNFS
PRESS RELEASE
TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES
JANUARY 05, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GNFS CLARIFIES VIRAL VIDEO ALLEGING ASSAULTS BY FIRE SERVICE PERSONNEL
- The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has taken note of a viral video circulating on social media, which allegedly shows some yet-to-be-identified Fire Service personnel assaulting a civilian whose identity has not been established.
- The Service confirms that the alleged assault of a journalist is under police investigation, and that GNFS will fully cooperate to establish the facts.
- The video captures an altercation between firefighters and a suspected thief, who had earlier attacked firefighters along with a group of accomplices at the fire scene.
- Management of the Service has constituted a committee to investigate the incident thoroughly and establish all relevant facts.
- While GNFS condemns attacks on its personnel, it equally frowns upon any form of physical or verbal assault on civilians by its personnel, regardless of the level of provocation.
- The Ghana National Fire Service, therefore, urges the public to remain calm and exercise restraint while the investigations continue.
- GNFS remains committed to professionalism, accountability, and transparency in the discharge of its mandate and will continue to cooperate with the media and relevant authorities to ensure accurate public information.
- Further updates on this matter will be communicated as necessary.
END
SIGNED
DESMOND E. ACKAH
DIVISIONAL OFFICER GRADE TWO (DO II)
HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
