Sam George Breaks Silence on Police Failure to Punish Officer Who Slapped Him

The incident happened on January 31, 2019, during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election in Accra. George, who was then the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, was caught in a confrontation with security personnel at La Bawaleshie.

A video of the incident showed a security operative stepping out of a vehicle and slapping the MP during a heated exchange. George was also reportedly punched by another person in uniform.

The incident attracted widespread attention and raised questions about the conduct of security officers during elections. It also became one of the major issues examined by the Justice Emile Short Commission of Inquiry, which was set up to investigate the violence that occurred during the by-election.

After hearing evidence from people involved, the commission recommended that the officer identified as Mohammed Sulemana should face criminal prosecution for assaulting George.

The commission described the officer’s action as unprofessional and said responding to an alleged insult with a slap could not be justified. It also criticised aspects of George’s conduct during the tense encounter, describing his behaviour as inappropriate and ill-advised.

However, the government later rejected the commission’s recommendation to prosecute the officer. This decision became a major source of concern for those who believed that the assault should have been followed by legal action.

George has continued to raise the issue over the years. In July 2025, he renewed his call for the police to act on his complaint, saying he had waited for justice since the incident in 2019.

His latest comments, reported by GhanaWeb on November 7, 2026, have once again drawn attention to the question of whether people in uniform can be held accountable when they are accused of assaulting members of the public.

The matter also carries a wider political meaning. Ghana has repeatedly faced concerns about the conduct of security personnel during elections and public demonstrations. When allegations involving security officers are not properly addressed, public confidence in law enforcement can suffer.

At the same time, accountability must follow due process. Any person accused of assault deserves a fair hearing, but victims also have a right to expect that their complaints will be properly investigated.