Deceased flouted traffic rules - Police

Kwaku Oppong, the 49-year-old amputee who was callously murdered by some military officers and a police officer was said to have hit his car against some cars and knocked down a motor rider, on the fateful night of his murder.

A highly-placed police source has told The Chronicle that the deceased caused damages to two vehicles and also hit a motor rider whilst on his way to the house.

The deceased, additionally ran away from the security officers because he feared he would be arrested for driving as an amputee, which is unlawful under Ghana’s laws.

According to information available to this paper, aside the fact that Kwaku Oppong defied rules against persons with physical deformity not to drive, the deceased was also allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

Kwaku Oppong, a Spare Parts dealer, lost his life on Thursday night after being shot and killed by four yet to be named military personnel and a police officer at his residence in Asennua, near Kumasi.

The security officers were reported to have chased him to his house on the fateful night and subjected him to severe beatings, before firing a bullet into his head. They were also said to have beaten the mother and nephew of the deceased, leaving them unconscious.

Though the military is yet to make an official statement on the act, which has left residents of the Asennua community in a state of mourning, The Chronicle is informed that the deceased flouted traffic regulations and caused damage to other road users whilst driving with one hand, since his other hand had been amputated.

According to the police source, the deceased had been wearing an artificial arm (known as prosthetic hand) to hide his amputated arm from security officers, but did not, however, wear it on the night of the incident, hence his refusal to stop when beckoned by the patrol team.

Though the police source said it could not make any official statement, as investigations were still ongoing, it was necessary to state that events leading to the murder, though it would not justify the action of the security officers who were on patrol during the night.

“We are still gathering information on the issue but what we can also state is that the deceased committed several traffic offences whilst driving on his way to the house and it is also wrong for an amputee to drive,” the Police source pointed out.