Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare, Inspector General of Police
The Police Administration has directed the interdiction of some six police officers for their involvement in a shooting incident in Lamashegu, near Tamale, in the Northern Region.
They include General Corporal Samson Kweku Darfour, General Corporal Prosper Mormesimu and General Constable Harrison Twum Danso.
Other officers are General Constable Matthew Sah, General Constable Nuhu Muntari and Constable Doris Serwa Bonsu.
The Director-General of Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), ACP Kwesi Ofori, in a press statement issued yesterday, said the police administration had also dispatched a team of investigators, led by the Deputy Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), DCOP Frederick Agyei, to lead the investigation into the matter.
Violence
According to reports, the clash started when a police patrol team attempted to stop an unregistered saloon car whose driver refused to stop.
The patrol team then pursued the car to the Lamashegu chief’s palace and allegedly fired gunshots into the car.
The disturbance is reported to have erupted when a young man who was being pursued by the police raced into the Lamashe-Naa’s palace to avoid being apprehended by security personnel.
An eyewitness said the young man was being chased for driving an unlicensed vehicle. However, while running into the palace, the Police allegedly shot him, causing the riot.
In the process, the youth of Lamashegu got agitated, leading to burning of tyres on the principal streets of the Tamale Metropolis over the weekend, and the clash with the police.
According to the youth, the act was disrespectful to the traditional authority, hence their agitation.
Police also fired several warning shots, and later resorted to the use of a water cannon to disperse the surging youth, as soldiers from a nearby garrison were invited to bring the situation under control.
The unfortunate clash resulted in the killing of one person and seven others from the community being injured.
Deterrence
The chief of Lamashegu, Naa Ziblim Abdulai, has condemned the violent acts, saying it is shows an act of disrespect on the part of the police officers to his jurisdiction and authority as a community head.
He therefore called on the police service to conduct investigations into the matter, and bring to book anybody found culpable in the disturbances.
“What the police officer did is a show of disrespect at the highest level. I feel disrespected and, though the police have since apologized, I want him to face the law. He should be dealt with for us to all know what punishment was meted to him, not merely transferring him,” he stated.
The chief also called on members of his community to remain resolute and calm as the appropriate authorities address their grievances.
About The Author
