Seventeen (17) days after renowned Ghanaian visual artist Ibrahim Mahama was allegedly assaulted by police officers, authorities have yet to provide a substantive public update on the status of investigations, raising growing concerns about transparency and accountability.
The incident, reported to have occurred on March 21, is alleged to have involved personnel believed to be part of the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Operations Team, commonly referred to as the “Black Maria.”
Despite the seriousness of the claims, the team led by Abdul Bawa Jalil has denied any involvement, maintaining that its officers were not present at the scene.
In the days following the alleged assault, the matter was referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau, the internal unit tasked with investigating misconduct within the Ghana Police Service.
However, nearly three weeks on, the Bureau has yet to communicate any findings or progress to the public.
Mahama, who met with the Police Management Board (POMAB) in Accra on March 26, made it clear that his pursuit of the case is not motivated by financial compensation but by a desire for justice and institutional accountability.
“We are not looking for money. It’s more about justice,” he told journalists after the meeting, stressing the importance of ensuring that the full circumstances of the incident are uncovered and addressed.
He further underscored the broader implications of the case, noting that transparent handling of such incidents is critical to strengthening public trust in democratic institutions.
According to him, citizens must be confident that their grievances will be taken seriously and fairly adjudicated.
As part of the ongoing inquiry, the Inspector-General of Police invited both Mahama and the Northern Regional Police Commander to assist with investigations. The high-level engagement was expected to shed light on the matter, but so far, no official briefing has followed.
The continued silence from police authorities has fueled public speculation and intensified calls from civil society groups and members of the public for a more transparent investigative process.
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