Mahama apologises to Joy FM reporter after assault by security detail

The office of former President John Mahama, has said investigations are ongoing into the assault of a Joy FM reporter by a member of John Mahama’s security detail.

The reporter, Kwesi Parker Wilson, was said to have been slapped by the security personnel on Monday whiles covering Mr. Mahama’s campaign to be National Democratic Congress flagbearer (NDC) at the Pentecost University as part of his five-day tour of the Greater Accra Region.

The incident left Mr. Wislon with bruises and swelling on the right side of his face, according to Joy FM.

Mr. Mahama’s office in a short statement said the former president had reached out to the reporter to offer his apologies.

In the meantime, the statement assured that the matter was being investigated.

“Our attention has been drawn to an unfortunate incident involving a security personnel and a reporter from Joy FM, Mr. Kwesi Parker Wilson, during our meeting with delegates today at the Pentecost University College in the Anya Sowutuom constituency.”

“The in-charge of security has been informed and the matter us duly being investigated. In the meantime, former President John Dramani Mahama, has offered his personal apologies to Mr. Parker Wilson for the unfortunate incident.”



Recalling the incident, Mr. Parker said he had wanted to follow the President to meet the authorities of the Pentecost University College after some time with the students.

But Mr. Parker said one of the security detail did not allow him and his cameraman access claiming journalists were not invited.

The security personnel did not take kindly to Mr. Parker’s attempts to explain himself.

An attempt by Parker to explain to the security officer that he was with the ex-president and had been covering all his activities did not go down well with him.

“He started pushing me” Mr. Parker said, adding that he was then slapped.

“I went blank and fell… as I speak to you my right eye is teary,” he said to Joy News.

Attacks on journalists during political party events have been recorded a few times, and the two main parties are often guilty.

In the early part of 2018, a known member of the NPP, Hajia Fati, also attacked a journalist of the Multimedia group.