The Mindset for Transformation Initiative (MTI) has condemned the military attack on a JoyNews journalist, calling for a need for wide-scale mindset transformation.
According to the Initiative, the act goes beyond violating press freedom in the country. MTI believes that attacks on journalists should not be addressed solely with punitive action, considering how deeply entrenched the culture of abuse of power has become.
In a statement issued by the Initiative Thursday, July 31, 2025, it said “the Spintex Road episode illustrates that entrenched mindsets also exist within state structures when individuals disregard democratic values.”
“This incident is more than a violation of press freedom—it reveals an entrenched culture of power misuse, fear, and disrespect for constitutional rights. Yet, the response should reflect not just punitive action, but a chance for wide-scale mindset transformation,” portions of the statement contained.
The call follows armed military officers who on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, attacked a JoyNews reporter, Carlos Calony, his cameraman and an eyewitness while the journalist was covering a demolition exercise at Spintex in Accra.
The soldiers further damaged the equipment of the journalist, leaving his camera in ruins and the victims with injuries.
Calony was later whisked away in a military vehicle, and his phones were seized as he was subjected to intense interrogation at Blue Gate, a facility by National Security where daily operations are carried out.
He was only released after the intervention by the Interior Minister, with the government condemning the action of the soldiers.
In its call for a new way of inclusive and forward-looking mindsets, the MTI says “Transforming mindsets must span across all levels of society—from security operatives, institutional leaders, and public servants, to ordinary citizens.”
Find below its full statement on the incident:
BRUTAL ASSAULT ON JOYNEWS JOURNALIST AT SPINTEX DEMOLITION UNDERSCORES URGENT NEED FOR MINDSET TRANSFORMATION
On Wednesday, 30 July 2025, JoyNews reporter Carlos Calony and his cameraman were violently assaulted by operatives in military uniform while covering a demolition exercise along Spintex Road in Accra. As Calony spoke with an eyewitness, security officers pounced – slapping and beating the civilian, and striking Calony twice in the neck with a clenched fist. The assault continued: their camera was shoved to the ground and destroyed, Calony’s phone and mic seized, and he was forcibly shoved into a vehicle and detained at the National Security installation at Bluegate. He was only released after the personal intervention of the Interior Minister, and is now receiving medical treatment for his injuries.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) swiftly condemned the attack, describing it as a “blatant affront to media freedom, the right to information, and the constitutional guarantee of free expression”. Similarly, JoyNews demanded an immediate and transparent investigation with sanctions against the officers involved.
Mindset Transformation: Beyond Youth and Criminal Reform
This incident is more than a violation of press freedom—it reveals an entrenched culture of power misuse, fear, and disrespect for constitutional rights. Yet, the response should reflect not just punitive action, but a chance for wide-scale mindset transformation.
Too often, “mindset transformation” is discussed as a youth reform or crime prevention agenda—a project for schools, communities, or at-risk individuals. But the Spintex Road episode illustrates that entrenched mindsets also exist within state structures when individuals disregard democratic values.
Transforming mindsets must span across all levels of society—from security operatives, institutional leaders, and public servants, to ordinary citizens:
- Embracing respect for constitutional freedoms
- Viewing journalists not as adversaries but as facilitators of transparency
- Shifting from ‘command and control’ into accountability and service orientation
Why This Matters for Society at Large
- Democracy in Practice
When security agents act above the law or suppress journalism, the democratic foundations of public accountability crumble. - Trust in Institutions
A soldier’s assault on a journalist during official operations cultivates public distrust—leading citizens to question whether the state upholds its own laws. - Culture of Impunity
If such incidents go unpunished or internal careers continue unchecked, it reinforces impunity. These are not isolated miscreants—they reflect a broader cultural failure.
A New Way of Thinking: Inclusive, Forward-Looking Mindsets
This incident should catalyse not just investigation, but broader programmes of mindset transformation for everyone in the system:
| Target Group | New Mindset Goal |
| Security and state officials | Uphold the law, respect media rights, accept oversight |
| Institutional leadership | Encourage accountability, discourage forceful tactics |
| General public and youth | Assert rights, demand transparency, reject abuse |
Such transformation isn’t backward-looking—it’s forward-thinking. It dismantles old paradigms of authoritative coercion and replaces them with principled service, legal accountability, and respect for rights.
Beyond Youth and Crime: A National Renewal
Mindset transformation must become a national mindset driving reforms in:
- Training and ethosin security agencies
- Leadership culturein state institutions
- Civic mindsetamong ordinary citizens to expect and demand rights
Instead of treating mindset change as a social welfare afterthought for youth or miscreants, we must adopt it as a strategic mindset upgrade for entire public structures. This is the only path toward a safer, fairer, and more democratic society for all citizens.
Conclusion
The assault on Carlos Calony is an urgent wake-up call. It is symptomatic of a deeper systemic fault—resistance to mindset transformation within power structures. Press freedom, democracy, and human dignity can only be fully protected when all stakeholders internalize new norms of respect, lawfulness, and service. Mindset transformation must be elevated as a national imperative—not just for youth or delinquent groups, but across Ghana’s institutions and society at large.
Only in this way can we build a society where development, justice, and accountability are not just aspirations but lived realities.
I’ll not preside over a govt that abuses journalists – Mahama condemns attack on JoyNews journalist
