Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun
The Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun, has backed the directive of Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia for an independent investigation of the fatal shooting of seven suspected armed robbers in Kumasi by the police.
The seven people, all males from the Zongo communities in Kumasi, were allegedly shot dead in a fierce gun battle with the police at Manso Nkwanta area last week.
The shooting of the seven people sparked riots by irate Zongo youth in Kumasi, who have over the past few days, blocked major roads in the city, especially those that lead to the Central Mosque.
They have also burnt several car tyres across the city.
A release signed and issued by Curtis Perry Kwabla Okudzeto, a Deputy Minister of Information, said that the government has set up an independent committee to investigate the matter which has become a national subject to help unravel circumstances under which the police shot and killed the seven suspects in that manner.
The Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, who is revered by members of the Zongo community in Kumasi, said Dr Bawumia had ordered an immediate independent investigation of the matter.
“I attended the REGSEC meeting, which was graced by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah and other ministers of state on Friday, and my delegation was informed that the Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia had ordered that an independent body should be set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the shooting to death of the seven men, who are all Zongo people, to help bring lasting peace.
“We are happy and comfortable with the order by the vice president, because we know that it will help us unearth what led to the shooting of the seven people so that there would be lasting peace in the Zongo communities,” Sheikh Mumin Haroun told Nhyira FM, a Kumasi-based radio station.
In the interview, the Muslim cleric indicated that the vice president’s directive is appropriate and timely.
According to him, the leadership of the Zongo communities in Kumasi, including the Imams, Sheikhs and chiefs, fully support the vice president’s order, adding “and so we shall accept the outcome of the investigations.”
He, therefore, appealed passionately to the aggrieved Zongo youth to exercise maximum restraint and stop the burning of car tyres on the roads and other violent acts so that the complicated matter would be thoroughly investigated.
Sheikh Mumin Haroun disclosed that his grandson was among the seven young men that were shot dead by the police on that fateful day, saying “I openly wept over his sudden death but I still have to keep calm and allow the law to work.”
From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi