There’s no evidence to suggest that the seven persons who were shot and killed by a Police patrol team at Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region, were armed robbers, and that they indeed exchanged fire with the police.
That’s according to the seven-member government committee that investigated the incident.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command had initially insisted that the seven, all residents of Asawase Zongo in Kumasi, were armed robbers who exchanged fire with them.
The killings on July 7, 2018, triggered outrage and anger in Zongo communities in Kumasi with residents insisting on the innocence of the seven.
A seven-member committee was eventually set up after days of angry protests over the killings.
According to a statement issued by the Information Ministry today, Monday November 19, there were no facts presented to the committee, which showed that the seven were armed robbers and that they had exchanged fire with the police.
Monday’s statement from the Information Ministry is expected to ease the tensions within the Zongo community where the delay in the release of the report had caused some discomfort among the families of the deceased and community leaders.
The committee completed its work and submitted its report to the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia in September 2018.
“According to the report, there were no facts before the committee to establish that the deceased persons were armed robbers who engaged in the exchange of fire with the Police.”
Police officers interdicted
The statement added that upon consideration, the government has decided that the 21 police officers involved in the killings be interdicted by the Police administration.
“The twenty-one (21) police personnel involved in the incident who have been found to be the principal suspects be interdicted by the Police administration and be subjected to formal police criminal investigation into the matter.”
Also, the government in consultation with community leaders will provide support for the dependents of the deceased victims.
Police killings
At the last count in July 2018, the Police had reportedly killed 22 Ghanaians.
In most of the cases, the Police said they took the action because those persons were armed robbers or that they exchanged fire with them.
The killing of the seven persons in Kumasi led to public discussions about Police brutality.
The Inspector General of Police and his entourage were chased away by some angry members of the Zongo community at the Kumasi Central Mosque during the protests.
The youth defied the Police’s riot control measures and pelted them with stones during the protests.
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By: Nana Ama Agyemang Asante/citinewsroom.com
