The allegations emerging from Awutu Senya East are deeply troubling and, if established after due investigation, demand the strongest possible sanctions.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, June 28, by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Municipal Chief Executive for Awutu Senya East, Mr. Seth Sabah Serwonoo-Banini, together with the Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Richard Asiedu, and others, allegedly stormed the premises of Obaatanpa Radio in Kasoa, locked up the station and assaulted one of its producers, Mr. Bernard Mireku. The alleged attack reportedly followed commentary on internal affairs of the NDC in the Awutu Senya East Constituency.
These allegations are grave. They go beyond an alleged assault on a journalist; they strike at the heart of constitutional democracy, media freedom and the rule of law.
The Ghana Journalists Association rightly described the alleged incident as one which, if proven, constitutes “a serious attack on press freedom, media independence and Ghana’s democratic values.” That assessment is difficult to dispute. The use of political power or public office to silence dissenting voices is fundamentally inconsistent with the democratic order established under the 1992 Constitution.
Article 162 of the Constitution could not be clearer. It guarantees the freedom and independence of the media and expressly prohibits censorship. Article 163 further provides that all state-owned media shall afford fair opportunities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions. Equally significant is Article 21(1)(a), which guarantees freedom of speech and expression, including freedom of the press and other media.
These constitutional guarantees were deliberately entrenched after years of authoritarian rule, during which journalists were intimidated, media houses shut down and public discourse suppressed. Ghana’s Fourth Republic has earned international recognition for maintaining one of Africa’s most vibrant media environments. It would therefore be a dangerous regression to tolerate any conduct that seeks to intimidate journalists through force rather than lawful processes.
Every public official, irrespective of political affiliation, must appreciate that criticism is an inevitable consequence of public office. Democracy is not sustained by applause; it is strengthened by scrutiny. If a public official believes a journalist has acted irresponsibly, Ghana’s legal system provides adequate remedies. The courts remain open. The National Media Commission exists precisely to resolve complaints against the media without resorting to intimidation or executive interference. The law does not permit anyone—least of all a Metropolitan, Municipal or District Chief Executive—to assume the roles of complainant, investigator, prosecutor and executioner.
What makes these allegations particularly disturbing is the office allegedly occupied by one of the principal actors. An MCE is the representative of the President within the municipality and is expected to uphold the Constitution, protect citizens’ rights and exemplify respect for the rule of law. Public office demands restraint, maturity and fidelity to constitutional values. It is incompatible with allegations of leading an attack on a media organisation because of disagreement with its editorial content.
The Daily Searchlight therefore unequivocally condemns the alleged assault on Mr. Bernard Mireku and the reported closure of Obaatanpa Radio. We call for the immediate restoration of the station’s operations if they remain disrupted, and we urge the Ghana Police Service to conduct a swift, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident.
More importantly, if investigations confirm that the Municipal Chief Executive indeed participated in or sanctioned the alleged actions, the President should have no hesitation in relieving him of his office. Such conduct would represent a gross abuse of public authority and a betrayal of the constitutional oath every public office holder is expected to honour.
Accountability must not be selective. A government that professes its commitment to constitutional governance and democratic freedoms must demonstrate that commitment not merely through speeches but through decisive action against officials whose conduct undermines those very principles.
No public office is so important that its holder becomes immune from constitutional discipline. No political disagreement is sufficient justification for violence against journalists. No democracy worthy of its name can tolerate the closure of a radio station by force because its content is politically inconvenient.
The lesson must be unmistakable: public power exists to protect constitutional freedoms—not to suppress them. If the allegations against the Awutu Senya East MCE are substantiated, dismissal from office should not merely be considered; it should be inevitable.
(Editorial of The Daily Searchlight of 29th June, 2026).
