Ex-NDC official and accomplice arrested for attacking journalist in Northern Region

Police in the Northern Region have arrested two suspects who allegedly attacked Abubakari Sadiq, a presenter with the Dagbon Radio station in Tamale.

The two suspects Iddrisu Hardi alias Pagaaza, an ex-executive of the opposition NDC in the region and Mumuni Osman, are in custody assisting the investigation and will be put before the court.

They were arrested in the early hours of Monday, May 8, 2023.

They attacked the presenter while he was hosting a live show in Tamale on May 4, the same day which marked World Press Freedom Day worldwide.

Following the attack, the police visited the scene, but the suspects had bolted.

Video footage of the incident was obtained to aid the investigation, a statement from the Ghana Police Service said in confirmation of the arrest.

In the viral video, the two suspects were captured storming the facility on Wednesday, May 3.

The attackers immediately grabbed the broadcaster by the neck to drag him out of the studio.

The scuffle became intense as the presenter fought off his attackers, with all three leaving the studio after the heated exchange.

Reports suggest that the Dagbon Radio journalist had criticized the former NDC communicator for talking about the Abudu and Andani conflict on a campaign platform.

Mr Pagazaa didn’t take his criticisms kindly and decided to attack him in the studio.

The incident sparked outrage among Ghanaians, with many calling for the former NDC official to be brought to justice.

The incident highlights the dangers and the attacks on pressmen across the country.

The increasing spate of such incidents has resulted in the country’s slump on the World Press Freedom Index.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Ghana 30th out of 180 countries in its 2021 World Press Freedom Index.