The above pressure group constitutes media practitioners and other members with human rights, legal and psychological background.
We have noticed with shock some videos which have gone viral on the brutalities meted out to innocent people resulting to some deaths during the lockdown recently declared by President Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo to help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The group believes while enforcing the lockdown directives, the security agencies must not take the laws into their hands by intimidating, harassing, torturing and killing Innocent people.
We also condemn any deviant act by civilians by subjecting the security personnel to any sort of attack or brutality in line of their duties.
The group has noticed the following acts against humanity and seeks thorough investigations by the police to help bring the culprits to book.
Firstly, three police officers with one Inspector Robert from Tafo Pankrono District, an in-charge, subjected the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Afigya Kwabre South, Hon Christian Adu Poku, to severe brutalities on 31st March 2020 within his own district,. The police extended their anger at a journalist with the Net 2 Television and beat him up in an attempt to seize his camera after capturing part of the brutalities. Inspector Robert, before such brutalities, subjected one Livingstone Agyena Nimoh, a Healthcare Consultant to a severe beatings when the police attempted to seize his phone for allegedly capturing an operation conducted by the police at Bremang Kwantwima near the police station.
Secondly, the Group has noticed a brutality of a 33 year old man, Kwabena Tweneboah Kodua, by the police, resulting to his death at Konkori in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of Ashanti Region.
Thirdly, a military officer on Friday 10th April 2020 at Olebu in the Ga Central in the Greater Accra Region, subjected one Samuel Adobah, a cameraman with TV Africa to severe beatings when the patrol team spotted him when he was covering a fire outbreak event at the area.
The group also watched a video in which a civilian, not comfortable with the maltreatment by military officer, punched him, with counter beatings by the security when he was chased and apprehended at Tafo in Kumasi.
Lastly, according to the group, on Thursday 9th April 2020 at Tema Newtown, there was an accidental shooting of a police woman to death by a military officer during Covid-19 operation at the area.
The group which aims at seeking truth and Justice for the voiceless in the society, deems such acts as unfortunate, ridiculous, inhumane, atrocious and gross disrespect for authority.
Such acts against the civilians, are in contravention with the core functions of the police as enshrined in Section 1 of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350)
The group also asserts the act of brutalities by the police breaches Article 15 (2) of the 1992 constitution which stipulates ‘no person shall whether or not he is arrested, restricted or detained, be subjected to a torture, or other cruel , inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment while the murder cases are contrary to Section 46 of the Criminal and other Offences Act, unless reduced to manslaughter depending on the available evidence.
The group therefore appeal to the Ministries of Interrior and Defence and the Inspector-General of Ghana Police Service (GPS) to intervene to help fast track these cases, towards disciplining the offending security officers and the civilians involved to serve as a deterrent to others.
Signed
Mr R. A. Asante (Chairman)……. 0244812075
Oduyefo Nana Asabre Pinamang (Vice Chairman .,….. . 0243146912
Mr Daniel Agyekum (Secretary) ,,,,,,,,,,,,0243475218
Mr Agyemang Duah lsaac (PRO) ..,……,. 0544077192
Mr Opoku Nyarko (Organiser) ……….0508120929
Mr Alexander Gyamfi (Assistant Secretary) …….0266602114
Mr Ernest Kwaku Agyei (Treasurer)……0245242404
Mr David N. Obeng. (Financial Secretary) …..,.0244177660
