Perry Okudzeto
The government has taken over investigations into the fatal shooting of seven suspected armed robbers by the police at Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region last week.
The government has consequently formed an independent committee, which has been tasked to thoroughly investigate the shooting of the seven people to help erase all doubts.
“Since the police and the families of the seven young men have different versions of the occurrence, government has decided to set up an independent committee to investigate the matter,” a statement, signed by Curtis Perry Kwabla Okudzeto, a Deputy Minister of Information said.
It also called on the Zongo community to exercise restraint while the matter is investigated.
The Ghana Police Service has also dispatched forensic experts from the police headquarters in Accra to Kumasi to thoroughly investigate the case.
During a meeting with the leadership of the Zongo community at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Kumasi on Friday, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, stated categorically that anyone that would be found culpable in the killing of the seven people would not be spared.
Zongo Youth Riot
Scores of Zongo youth in Kumasi have been blocking busy roads in the city, especially those in Asawase in recent times owing to the killing of the seven suspected armed robbers by the police.
According to the police, the seven people, who were in a car, were heading towards Manso Nkwanta area to attack a mining site and police’s order to them to stop failed, leading to a gun battle which resulted in the deaths.
The angry Zongo youth have continually debunked claims by the police that the seven people were armed robbers.
They said they would soften their stance if the police publicly admit that they killed innocent people.
Gov’t Statement
The statement added that the government was not happy with the security situation in Kumasi lately, notably in the Zongo areas, since the shooting incident.
It said the government has so far taken major steps to help unravel circumstances that led to the shooting of the seven people by the police in order to help prevent mayhem.
“Government, yesterday, sent a delegation led by the Minister of Inner City and Zongo Development, the Hon. Abu-bakar Sadique Boniface, including the Minister for Information, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid.
“Others include the IGP, David Asante-Apeatu, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah and the MCE for Asokore Mampong, Alidu Seidu to the Zongo community, where they met with the youth, Imams and Zongo chiefs.
“The delegation consoled the bereaved families and assured them of government’s commitment to establishing the truth and called for calm, the statement said.
Autopsy
Meanwhile, the paper has gathered that autopsy has been conducted on the bodies of four people identified as Bashiru Musah, Musah Seidu, Abdul Hannan and Kamel Mohamme, all from Asawase.
The findings of the autopsy, which was reportedly conducted by celebrated pathologist, Dr. Opoku Sampene of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have not been released to the bereaved families, but Grapevine information from the hospital indicated that the report contains information that would indict the police.
Asokore Mampong MCE
Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Asokore Mampong, Alidu Seidu, in an interview with DAILY GUIDE said, so far five people from Asawase in Kumasi have been identified among the dead.
He said the five people are all Muslims, adding that the fifth deceased person is called Frenchman, a Christian who lived at Asawase.
Mr Alidu Seidu said the reports also indicated that the sixth and seventh dead persons are from Manso Nkwanta, adding that their identities are not yet known to him (Seidu).
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi