A group of 23 fire service personnel from the West Akim Municipal Office, led by four senior officers, stormed Nkonim FM in Asamankese, Eastern Region, on Wednesday morning.
The fire officers verbally attacked the station’s staff, including the host and guest of the Morning Show, over alleged misinformation regarding a recent fire outbreak in the area.
The senior officers, identified as F.M. Ampofo Lotus and Godwin Myers, along with two other colleagues, arrived at the station in uniform and failed to follow proper protocol.
They forcibly entered the station’s studio while a live program, Mmasem Nie, was underway, hosted by Eric Gagba, with Albert Obiri-Yeboah as a guest. The officers accused the station of spreading false information about the fire service’s handling of the fire incident.
Meanwhile, approximately 15 junior officers in light blue uniforms surrounded the entrance and reception area, preventing staff from leaving and taking four on-duty employees hostage. They warned the staff not to take photos or videos, threatening retaliation if they did.
The situation escalated when the senior officers attempted to forcibly remove the host and guest from the studio, intending to confront them about their reporting.
According to Mensah Atakora, the station’s Human Resource Manager and political show host, the officers disregarded his instructions to write their names in the visitors’ log and instead became increasingly aggressive.
The officers shouted insults, including calling the staff “foolish,” “animals,” and “hollow-minded,” accusing them of spreading negativity about the fire service despite its sacrifices.
They also threatened to jail the host for three months and warned the staff not to incite the public against the fire service.
The tension continued to build as the officers, led by one ununiformed individual identified as Bawa Solomon, attempted to provoke the staff.
Atakora said he attempted to call the station’s manager and the police, but the officers blocked any attempts to contact external help, even forbidding staff from using their mobile phones.
Fortunately, the station’s manager, Samuel Asiedu, arrived during the confrontation.
As he entered the building, six officers in uniform, along with one additional officer without a uniform, accosted him, grabbing his neck and threatening to beat him.
Atakora then managed to call the Asamankese Police Patrol Team, who arrived promptly to defuse the situation and protect the staff.
