NINE PERSONS have been arrested in connection with ‘gun battle’ at the Shai-Osudoku District Hospital at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.
They have been remanded by the Dodowa District Magistrate Court for further investigations. The charges preferred against them included conspiracy to commit crime, causing harm and unlawful possession of weapons.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded in police custody by the court presided over by His Worship – Charles Kwesi Acheampong.
Inspector Mathias Agbenyo who read the facts of the case in court disclosed that last Wednesday, police received a report about a land dispute between an estate developer and some residents of the area.
While investigations were in progress, police received another report concerning a misunderstanding that ensued between two groups which resulted in the use of offensive weapons such as machetes and guns.
Victims of the incident sustained various degrees of injury after a fierce clash between the two groups, and they were rushed to the Shai Osudoku District Hospital for treatment.
While treatment was underway at the hospital, some members of the irate group stormed the hospital with their fracas amidst firing of gunshots to demand the release of the injured persons for instant justice to be meted out.
Some authorities of the hospital including patients, visitors, doctors, nurses had to run away for fear of being injured.
However, the police arrived at the scene and arrested nine of the suspects who were allegedly involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent of the Dodowa District Hospital, Dr. Ken Brightson, told Accra-based Citi FM that the scene became more chaotic when he insisted on giving medical care to some victims in a vehicle who were being taken to the police station to write a statement.
“As soon as the team arrived on our premises, it became chaotic. They started fighting. Some of the wounded victims also engaged in the fight. So a policewoman, who was accompanying them to the hospital, had to call for reinforcement,” he disclosed.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema