Ghana Police Under Attack Over Women Killings

Ghana's police chief, facing public anger over a string of bizarre killings of women within the capital Accra, Wednesday rebuffed calls on him to concede failure and resign the post.

"It would be a disgrace to resign. It will be cowardly and defeatist to do so," Inspector General of Police Peter Nanfuri told journalists in Accra.

At least 30 women, in their 40s, have been found dead in strange circumstances over the past three years with no clue from the police to unravel what has become a mystery surrounding the deaths.

More than six women were killed this year alone, four in the last two months.

The latest victim was found early Monday along a major by-pass linking the eastern port city of Tema.

It lay in a supine position wearing a black brassiere and a white blouse pulled up to the neck with the rest of the body naked. Nearby were torn panties and a pair of slippers.

Police confirmed this has been a common feature with all 30 bodies found so far, attracting protests by women groups and civil society, including men, who accused government and security agents for not doing enough to arrest the killer or killers.

"We can longer wait. It's been long overdue. They must find those killing our mothers and sisters," Gloria Ofori-Buadu of the Federation of Women Lawyers said.

She said the police have failed in their responsibility to protect citizens in the past three years. "We demand answers," she added.

Grace Osei, a banker, said the killings and the inability of the police to come out with clues were frustrating.

"He (IGP) has failed us. He must go," she added. "Somebody or some people somewhere must bear the responsibility. Or else they must relinquish their posts for others to come with new ideas on how to find the murderers."

Pamela Ackumey, a shop-owner who resides a few metres away from where the last but one victim was found, said going to and from work is becoming an option.

"The memory of that murdered women is still fresh in my mind. I am still thinking whether I should continue operating my shop," she said

Early this year, women groups took to the streets of the capital with placards demanding answers to the killings. They called on First Lady Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings to let her influence bear on the authorities to stop the killings.

The police responded by mounting roadblocks in selected parts of Accra but this was short-lived.

Nanfuri accepted that resolving the killings has been a challenge but said lack of public input was worrying.

"It is a challenge to us to investigate and find out ways and means to arrest the culprits but how do we do it without concrete clues from the public?" he said.

Some people interviewed said they believe the killings are for ritual purposes while others alleged it is politically motivated.

What is more troubling is Nanfuri's uncertainty when he was asked by journalists to set a deadline for a concrete answer to the killings.

"I cannot assure the public that the murders would not continue since criminals are always around. It is only God who could stop criminal activities," he said.

He also declined to comment on allegations that the police was dragging its feet in coming out with the culprits because some top political parties and powerful men are involved.

The killings have not only made the government unpopular but also a high point in opposition attack on it in the run-up to the general elections two weeks ago.

The issue is again dominating the campaign by the opposition coalition ahead of a presidential run-off between the ruling National Democratic Congress and the main opposition New Patriotic Party set for 28 December.

"They (government) are not telling us anything about the killings because they don't have anything to tell us. We must therefore vote wisely...for people who will ensure our safety in our own country," opposition legislator Theresa Tagoe said in a television commercial, ahead of the presidential re-run.