The Police administration, has yet again, raised the hopes of Ghanaians, claiming it has commenced investigation into a viral video in which two of its officers, were seen struggling with a man and assaulting him in the process.
The service, has a penchant for quickly issuing such statements to douse public anger against it for such inhumane treatment to members of the public by its personnel, but quickly sweeping the matter under the carpet when the attention of the public wanes.
The uniformed men, said to be with the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) were captured in the video, physically assaulting the man at a place, said to be Asankrangwa in the Western North Region.
Hours after the video caught public attention, the police administration issued a statement, saying “the matter is being handled by the Police Professional Standards Bureau and the officers involved, Inspector Prince Awuah and G/Cpl. John Ahiamata both with the Divisional MTTD Asankrangwa have been referred to the Bureau to be taken through the due process of the law”.
The statement, said that the service has made contact with the victim, and he is assisting with investigation.
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According to reports, the man was assaulted over a bag the officers suspected contained marijuana (weed).
The incident happened on Saturday November 19, 2022 around 11:00am.
According to sources, the man was in the company of another man at the back of a Pragya tricycle which was stopped at Asankrangwa Newtown, between Asankrangwa and Asankran-Odumasi.
The Asankrangwa Divisional Police Command MTTD personnel enquired about the owner of a bag at the back of the Pragya.
Though it was quickly determined that the male suspect was the owner, he denied ownership, thus was brutalised by the officers.
Meanwhile, some residents who looked on, blamed the suspect for not admitting to the allegation and pleading for his release. The tricycle rider and the passenger were, however, allowed to go.
In April this year, the Ghana Police Service, confirmed the arrest of a man who went viral on social media after brandishing a gun, while arguing with another driver on the streets.
The incident is said to have happened on the streets of Winneba in the Central Region when the motorist was confronted for careless driving.
The police statement said the gunman had been arrested and his weapon has also been seized.
“Perceived gunman arrested. Reference the above, the person involved in attacking the motorist has been arrested and the weapon retrieved. Full details will follow soon,” the Police wrote on Facebook.
Interestingly, nothing was heard again about the incident.
In June this year, a police officer was arrested and put under strict guard at Peki Government Hospital after he was involved in an accident while transporting 84 parcels of wee in his car after refusing to stop at a barrier which he later crashed.
Identified as G/Sergeant Lotsu Agbeko, 36, the police officer was said to be travelling to the Volta Region in his personal Toyota Corolla, but failed to heed to a signal to stop when he got to the Have police barrier. His failure to heed to the signal resulted in a hot chase by the personnel manning the barrier.
After a long chase by the police, he unluckily crashed into the Kpeve Mountains and got his left hand fractured. He was then rushed to the hospital.
Nothing has since been heard about the incident.
Again, in March, this year, the police administration mentioned that Constable Randolph Ansah and Lance Corporal Stephen Kwaku Nyame, had been killed during an exchange of fire with the Police at Ashaiman in Accra.
Many said this was an execution that the police carried out. Residents in the area had told The Herald at the time that they never heard any exchange of gunfire, but only saw police vehicles arriving in the area and later seen leaving.
They held it was ruse as the policemen were killed elsewhere, but driven through the area to give an impression of a gun battle. Indeed, one of those killed, was said to be at Police Hospital in Accra, but was taken out in the name of interrogation.
The police also claimed it arrested four other policemen during its intelligence-led operation at Borteyman near Ashaiman in connection with its ongoing investigations into the robberies. In addition, one civilian suspect was arrested.
The police said in a statement signed by the Director-General of Public Relations, DCOP Kwesi Ofori on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, that five other suspects, all civilians, got away with bullet wounds.
The arrested suspects were to be arraigned on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
“During the raid at Borteyman, near Ashaiman, there was an exchange of gunshots and two policemen, No. 58284 Constable Reindolph Ansah and No. 53549 Lance Corporal Stephen Kwaku Nyame, who had been arrested in connection with the bullion van robberies, were shot and were pronounced dead on arrival at the Police Hospital where they were rushed for treatment.
“Some other suspects believed to have sustained gunshot wounds managed to escape the scene,” the police said.
“Further investigations have led to the arrest of five other suspects, four of whom are policemen.
“We are pursuing five other civilian suspects who have gone into hiding,” the statement said.
Ghana Police Service, had assured the general public that officers found to be complicit in the series of Bullion Van robbers will not be protected. Mr Ofori made the promise during an interview with Citi News, stressing that thorough investigations have begun into the crimes.
“The police administration will not protect anyone who does wrong in the service. We have got two of our own and investigations are ongoing seriously. At the appropriate time, we will come out clearly with the information. The public should see this as a plan of policing ourselves and dealing with our own in such unfortunate situations. We will ensure that we will carry the spirit and aspirations in terms of protection and better security,” he said.
Like the others, nothing has since been heard on this case, also.
