Dear Dr Justice Srem-Sai,
I write to you with deep respect, following a recent story attributed to you in which you reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting journalists, punishing perpetrators of attacks against them, and compensating those harmed in the line of duty. Your words were reassuring and firmly rooted in the Constitution, which recognises the indispensable role journalists play in Ghana’s democracy.
As a journalist myself, your assurance immediately brought to mind one unresolved and deeply painful case — that of my colleague, Latif Iddrisu of JoyNews.
In March 2018, Latif was brutally assaulted by uniformed police officers at the CID Headquarters while carrying out his professional duty of reporting on the detention of Koku Anyidoho. That assault left him with a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury, the effects of which he continues to endure nearly eight years on.
This is not speculation. It is a lived reality.
Latif has spent no less than $50,000 on medical care in Ghana and in California, USA, where he continues to undergo therapy. These costs have been covered through personal savings, the support of family, friends, benefactors, and the Multimedia Group. Today, he remains indebted to the Loma Linda University Medical Center in excess of $26,000, with an additional ambulance bill of about $700, excluding the cost of ongoing treatment.
Legally, the matter remains unresolved. The suit against the Police was filed in 2019 and, seven years on, is still before the courts after passing through three judges. Even more concerning is that the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) recommended compensation, and the Police administration initially pledged to pay. Yet, to date, no compensation has been made.
Several petitions have been submitted to the Office of the Attorney General, including one from His Eminence the National Chief Imam, and others from Martin Luther Kpebu Esq, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, and other respected citizens. Professional bodies such as the Ghana Journalists Association have also consistently appealed for redress. Regrettably, these efforts have not yet yielded closure or relief.
Dr Srem-Sai, I raise this matter with humility and respect, not as a demand, but as an earnest appeal. If the state’s promise to journalists is to be demonstrated in practical terms, this case presents a clear and compelling opportunity to do so.
This is not about sympathy. It is about constitutional responsibility, press freedom, and state accountability. It is about assuring journalists that when they are harmed in service to the public, the state will not look away.
Latif Iddrisu survived a near-death experience in the line of duty. He seeks justice, compensation, and closure, not charity, but the fulfilment of a responsibility already acknowledged by the state.
As you rightly stated at the Ghana Journalists Association Dinner Night on December 23, 2025.
“We will not harm journalists. We will not allow anyone else to harm them. We will ensure perpetrators are punished, and we will compensate any journalist who suffers harm in the line of duty.”
Dr Justice Srem-Sai, this moment offers an opportunity to translate that promise into action, and to set a precedent that will strengthen press freedom and restore faith in the state’s commitment to protect journalists.
Respectfully,
A Ghanaian Journalist
Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie
