Salam Mustapha is the NPP National Youth Organizer
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed its commitment to cooperating with police investigations into the alleged assault on Joy News journalist Latif Iddrisu during recent protests at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
This follows the invitation of the NPP’s Deputy National Organizer, Chris Lloyd, by the police to assist with investigations.
NPP National Youth Organizer, Salam Mustapha, who accompanied Lloyd, told 1957 News on June 10, 2025, that Lloyd was granted self-recognizance bail after providing a statement.
“He was invited by the police to assist with investigations. He wrote his statement and was just granted bail,” Mustapha said.
However, Mustapha defended Lloyd’s actions, stating that he was “one of those trying to calm things down” during the protest.
“It’s interesting that they would look at Chris in that light because he was one of those who was rather trying to calm things down. But we are aiding in investigations, so anytime they need him, we will make him available.
“I was there throughout the process. I don’t want to go into details because some of the things I heard in court yesterday — the charges — I was shocked,” he added.
These comments come in the wake of the court remand of Theophilus Thompson, an NPP supporter charged with assaulting Iddrisu during the demonstration against the detention of Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako.
While pledging cooperation, Mustapha hinted at the possibility of protests if members are “wrongfully arrested.”
“If they wrongfully arrest any of our members, we will protest. The protesters were all peaceful until the police came and escalated the situation. If the police had not come to do what they did, there wouldn’t have been any problem at all,” he said.
Deputy General Secretary Chris Lloyd, who was also interviewed, stated that he is ready to cooperate at any time.
“The police have been very professional. We are ready to cooperate with them; even if they call me at 1 a.m., I will come,” he said.
About the assault:
Latif Iddrisu, who was covering a protest by NPP supporters at EOCO, reported that the supporters had clashed with police and allegedly vandalized two police vehicles before he was assaulted by some of the protesters.
Video footage shared by JoyNews showed a chaotic scene, with a large crowd surrounding Iddrisu as he attempted to report on the situation.
“Nobody has attacked any police!” some angry supporters shouted at the journalist upon hearing the details of his live report.
During the broadcast, Iddrisu was surrounded by several supporters expressing their displeasure, with some seen heckling and shoving him.
At one point, the reporter noted that he had been struck by a stone.
“So right now, I have been assaulted with this pebble, and the assault is captured live on television,” Iddrisu reported.
Watch the video below:
@the1957news LIVE | Deputy Organizer of the NPP, Chris Lloyd Nii Kwei Asamoah, has been granted self-recognizance bail after a police invitation regarding his alleged involvement in the assault of a JoyNews journalist at the EOCO headquarters.
♬ original sound – The1957News
ID/