Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has called on law enforcement personnel to exercise restraint and show respect toward journalists assigned to cover the upcoming Akwatia by-election, in an appeal aimed at preventing confrontations between police and the press.

The directive follows a widely condemned incident in July, during which a journalist was reportedly assaulted by a police officer while covering the Ablekuma North parliamentary rerun. The altercation sparked public criticism and raised concerns over press freedom and police conduct during electoral events.

Speaking at a meeting in Accra with leaders of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr. Yohuno underscored the media’s crucial role in Ghana’s democratic process and broader national development.

“All we are telling police personnel across the country is that the brothers and sisters who hold the camera and the phones to take whatever they want during the election—I think there is a level to which they can go, but you have to be moderate in handling them,” the police chief said.

He emphasized that journalists serve as an essential conduit between events on the ground and the general public, who depend on real-time reporting for electoral transparency and accountability.

“Without them, the rest of the people at home can’t see what’s happening. Some of us wouldn’t even have our names known without the media,” he added.

The IGP also sought to reassure members of the press that the police will prioritize their safety during the by-election, promising that law enforcement would act as a safeguard rather than a threat.

“We will make sure that we will protect you,” Mr. Yohuno stated.

The Akwatia by-election is seen as a test not only of political strength but also of institutional readiness to ensure peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral processes. The police directive comes as stakeholders continue to stress the importance of upholding civil liberties and press freedom in the run-up to the vote.