Committee inaugurated to investigate Police shootings

Accra, May 24, GNA - A five-member independent committee has been inaugurated in Accra to investigate the Dansoman and Kotobai shooting incidents.

Justice Jacob Charles Amonoo Monney, a retired Appeal Court Judge and a Former Director of Public Prosecutions, is to chair the Committee, which has one month to complete its work.

Other members of the Committee are Prof. Florence Dolphyne, a Former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana; the Rev. Fr. Samuel Batsa from the National Catholic Secretariat; Mrs Janet Naakalee Amegatcher, a private legal practitioner and Mr Mumuni Abdulai Bawumia of the Interior Ministry.

The terms of reference of the Committee include investigating the circumstances leading to the shooting by Police of four persons in Dansoman and a young man at Kotobabi.

The Committee would determine the identity and backgrounds of all the deceased; make appropriate recommendations to the Minister of The Interior arising from the findings and advise the Minister on any other issues relating to the incident which would forestall recurrence. On April 21, 2006 Police Officers, who were in pursuit of armed robbers opened fire on a Tico taxicab resulting in the death of four occupants including two women.

Last week, the Police in pursuit of alleged car snatchers shot and killed one Isaac Kodjo Tettey-Nartey, a 26-year-old man at Kotobabi in Accra. Both incidents have led to huge public outcry, compelling the authorities to investigate the circumstances leading to the shootings. Interior Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, who inaugurated the Committee, said the Government had taken cognisance of all the concerns expressed regarding the incidents and had decided to appoint the Committee in its efforts to unravel the truth surrounding the circumstance leading to the loss of lives.

He called on the public and those with relevant information to lend the Committee the necessary support and cooperation to enable them to find the truth.

"Ghanaians want to know the truth. The Government wants to know the truth. The Police Service wants to know the truth. And above all the families of the deceased want to know the truth."

Justice Monney said the Committee would do its duty without fear or favour, within the limited time it had been given.

Mr Kan-Dapaah, answering questions from the Media, said it would be better if people did not speculate but waited for the report of the Committee before making pronouncements.

He said if the report incriminated anyone or found anyone culpable, the law would be made to take its course.

But some residents of Kotobabi calling themselves the "Concerned Youth of Kotobabi" have given a one-week ultimatum to the Inspector-General of Police and some Police Commanders to resign their positions for the unprofessional manner the Police gunned down the resident.

They have threatened to advise themselves on the next line of action, including demonstrations if the ultimatum was not met.