FLASHBACK! The bodies of the victims being carried from the scene. INSET: DCOP Akwasi Duke declaring the victims as armed robbers during a press conference
Twenty-one police officers in the Ashanti Region have been interdicted with immediate effect for killing seven people at Manso Nkwanta in July, this year.
The government also ordered the police administration to formally launch criminal investigations into the shooting incident which shocked the country.
The government took the decision due to the final report of the five-member fact-finding committee chaired by Justice Obeng Diawuo, which said there was no evidence to suggest that the seven people were robbers.
This was contained in a statement released to the media yesterday and signed by the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
However, the identities of the affected officers were not made public.
The fact-finding committee was made up of Justice Obeng Diawuo of the High Court, Rt. Rev. Prof. Osei-Safo Kantanka, Sheikh Ahmed Siedu, David Adu-Osei and Emelia Ayebenu Botchway.
Shooting Incident
Seven males, who were on board a Toyota Corolla, were heading towards Manso Nkwanta area in the Ashanti Region when a group of policemen reportedly opened fire on them, killing them instantly.
The police claimed the seven heavily armed were allegedly travelling to a mining site in the area to undertake robbery on that fateful day.
According to the law enforcement agents, the seven people engaged police in a fierce shootout but the police were able to overpower them which unfortunately led to their deaths.
The narrative was vehemently disputed by residents of Asawase who argued that there was no exchange of fire between the deceased and the police.
Mayhem At Asawase Zongo
News about the death of the seven people quickly sparked riots at Asawase and nearby Zongo areas in Kumasi owing to the fact that five of the deceased lived in the neighbourhood.
The Zongo youth argued strongly that the people were not armed robbers as the police had claimed and vowed to cause commotion until justice is served by government.
All seven people were buried amid tight security provided by military personnel.
Committee Report
The government eventually listened to the concerns of the youth and formed a fact-finding committee which revealed that it did not find any evidence to support the claim made by the police that the seven people were robbers.
Part of the statement of the Information Minister said: “There were no facts before the committee to establish that the deceased persons were armed robbers who engaged in exchange of fire with the police.
“The 21 police personnel involved in the incident who have been found to be the principal suspects should be interdicted by the police administration and subjected to formal police criminal investigation”.
Assurance
It said due process would be followed in the pursuit of justice and so the public, especially the affected families, should remain calm until the determination of the matter.
“Government, in the interim, is in consultation with the bereaved families and community leaders in order to provide support for the dependents of the deceased persons,” the statement added.
Defence
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Akwasi Duke, later defended the action of his men, claiming that the seven were armed robbers who had earlier killed two policemen.
According to him, the deceased were believed to have killed L/Cpl Daniel Tieku attached to the SWAT Unit and wounded L/Cpl Eric Nsiah in a gun battle.
DCOP Duku insisted police officers do not carry out arbitrary or unlawful killings, adding that the deceased were members of the armed robbery group that attacked the police officers and some passengers on board a Sprinter Bus registered AC 644-15.
He explained that the suspects initially opened fire on the police after they ignored signals to stop while on board a Toyota Corolla with registration number BA 294 -15 and an unlicensed motorbike.
The police chief later displayed weapons the victims were alleged to have used to attack the police.
“Four AK 47 assault rifles, one SMG number 197619, pump action gun and G-3 were retrieved, together with five boxes of AK 47 ammunition and 88 AK 47 ammunition loaded in four magazines,” he said.
With the revelation by the committee, it’s unclear where the police got the said weapons to present to the general public.
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi