An Accra-based human rights lawyer, Samson Lady Anyenini , has strongly criticised the management of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) for what he described as poor judgment in retaining DO II Desmond Ackah as the Service’s Head of Public Relations.

Mr. Anyenini described Mr. Ackah as unfit to occupy the position of Public Relations Officer of a security institution, arguing that his public comments following the alleged assault of a Class Media Group journalist reflect a fundamental lack of understanding of media freedom and public communication.

He called on the management of the GNFS to immediately withdraw Mr. Ackah from public engagements and subject him to disciplinary action, including interdiction, pending investigations into his utterances after the Kasoa incident involving the alleged assault of journalist Samuel Addo.

According to Mr. Anyenini, it was inappropriate and deeply troubling for the GNFS PRO to suggest that the journalist was assaulted because he lacked permission to film the incident.

“For a Head of Public Relations to suggest that a journalist needs permission to film a public event involving public officers is ignorance of the highest order,” he said.

“There is no law in Ghana that requires a journalist to seek permission before recording a public incident.”

Mr. Anyenini further argued that the comments attributed to Mr. Ackah amount to an attempt to justify an unlawful assault and undermine press freedom.

He insisted that GNFS management should not be seen as shielding unprofessional conduct within the Service.

He described Mr. Ackah’s handling of the matter as a disgrace to the Ghana National Fire Service and called for him to be made to undergo refresher training in public relations and media engagement.

Mr. Anyenini made the remarks while reacting to statements issued by the GNFS Public Relations Officer on Accra-based Joy FM following the Kasoa incident.

He maintained that the PRO’s explanations should not be entertained, particularly in light of video evidence circulating publicly, which allegedly shows the journalist being assaulted by fire service personnel during efforts to douse a fire at the Kasoa New Market.