Driver jumped to his death, police did not assault him to death - Tafo Police

The Police in Kumasi has issued a statement giving a different scenario of what led to the death of a commercial driver compared to the one given by the mother of the deceased.

Police said in a statement signed by ASP Godwin Ahianyo, a Public Affairs Officer, that their preliminary investigation shows that a Police Patrol Team spotted a driver on board an unregistered Toyota Pasco private saloon car, driving recklessly making other oncoming vehicles veer off their lane.

“The driver was signaled to stop but he ignored the signals from the police. So he was chased and arrested, where a Community Policing Assistant was to escort him to the Tafo Pankrono Police Station with the Patrol Team following closely.

“On reaching the Tafo Government Hospital junction, the man jumped out from the vehicle. Trying to escape from the police but fell down in the process and became unconscious. The patrol team rushed him to the Tafo Government Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Just when the Police Patrol Team was about to leave the hospital, some youth in the area stormed the OPD and physically assaulted some of the hospital staff before whisking the body of the deceased away to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Reinforcement was called in and they managed to arrest Five (5) persons, who are currently assisting in investigations,” the statement narrated.

Meanwhile, mother of the driver, Nana Akua said her son, Kofi Poku aka Masco, was allegedly assaulted by police officers.

Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm disclosed that her son was assaulted, battered by the police because they accused him of failing to stop when he was ordered to do so by the police.

According to her, the son was said to have rammed into the car of another driver but failed to stop when he was ordered to by the police.

The mother is claiming that the sin was given a hot cause by the police until they caught with him, assaulted him and took him to the Tafo police station.

The mother said she was called on phone July neighbours over the matter and so she left for the police station but was told the son had been rushed to the hospital.

She was later called to be informed that the son had passed on.

Some of the angry youth in the area including the deceased brother who stormed the police station over the matter have been arrested and detained, the mother narrated.

The mother who was speaking to Kwabena Agyapong shared bitter tears on the show saying: “they have killed my son. They claimed my son failed to stop after he was asked to do so. They have killed my son.”

However, the Police Command said it has taken the matter up and assures the Public that it will follow due process to investigate it thoroughly.

“Everyone should remain calm since the outcome of the investigation will be made known to the public,” the statement stressed.

Eyewitnesses, drivers, and residents in and around Krofrom, Tafo Pankrono, and the Tafo Government Hospital area are therefore being entreated to volunteer information to the police on telephone number 0541816603 or call Toll Free number 18555 or Hotline 191 in order to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the man,’’ the statement added.