Nii Lante Vanderpuye has said that the assault on the journalist is unpardonable
The National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) and former Member of Parliament for Odododiodio Constituency, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has strongly condemned the recent assault on a JoyNews journalist covering the demolition of a warehouse allegedly owned by McDan Group Ltd by some military officers on July 30, 2025.
He described the assault as “unpardonable” and has called for the officers involved in the matter to be addressed facing the law.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, July 31, Nii Lante Vanderpuye condemned the attack but cautioned against attributing such incidents directly to the government.
“As a professional journalist and a media person, I will be the first person to accept this conclusion,” he said.
“But let me say this, we should also understand that such things are actions of over-exuberant and irresponsible security people. As such, it is not something that the GJA President should lay blame at the doorstep of the government,” he added.
According to him, no responsible government would ever endorse or sanction any disregard for the rights of journalists.
“No responsible government in its right sense would endorse, sanction, or approve any such wanton disregard for the human rights of a journalist,” he stressed.
Nii Lante Vanderpuye firmly condemned all forms of violence, noting, “Any form of assault, in whatever form it takes, is condemnable. I will not sanction, approve, or endorse any assault on anybody without cause.”
He emphasised that even in situations of provocation, responses must be lawful and justified.
“Even if there is a reason for you to respond or react to something, it must be justifiable, it must be within limits, it must be permissible,” he explained.
“You don’t just attack somebody, violate the person’s fundamental freedoms, and expect to be allowed to go free,” he said.
He maintained that an assault in any form is unacceptable, whether between civilians or involving security personnel.
“Any assault from a soldier or any member of the security service on a civilian is wrong. For a journalist in the course of his duty is even worse. Any assault on a security officer by a civilian is wrong. Any assault from a civilian on another civilian is wrong,” he stated.
Nii Lante Vanderpuye welcomed the statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces condemning the attack and called for firm action to be taken against the culprits.
“What happened is condemnable, it was wrong, and it must be seen as such,” he said.
“I’ll be expecting feedback from the military authorities, just as they’ve issued a statement condemning the action and accepting responsibility that they are going to take measures against the soldiers involved,” he stated.
AS/VPO
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