Criminologist, Prof. Ken Attafuah doubts the ability of the police service to thoroughly investigate incidents of accidental killings by their own men. He is, therefore, pushing for the establishment of an "independent police complaint commission" to deal with the canker.
According to him, the commission will be better placed in investigating increased spate of accidental killings of innocent persons in recent times.
This assertion follows reports that irate youths in Odumase in the Brong Ahafo region have declared their town a 'no go' area for the police.
This was in response to the alleged killing of a 28-year-old mechanic by the police in the town.
The youth also chased out the Deputy Regional Minister, Justice Samuel Yeboah, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive and the regional Police Commander.
On Tuesday, September 3, 2013, two policemen, who lost their lives at Gomoa Pomadze, near Winneba, on the previous night, were accidentally shot at by a police patrol team, which was responding to a distress call.
There has been the incidence of a-49-year-old tanker driver, Samuel Asabour, who was allegedly shot and killed by a police patrol team in broad day light on Tuesday, August 20, 2013.
Speaking to Joy News, Ken Attafuah condemned accidental killings by the police, noting that it was "unprofessional conduct", "terribly unfortunate" and getting "out of hand".
He was of the view that the police often do not come out to explain such killings and even when they do, it does nothing to increase public trust.
"Refined public relations and propaganda cannot win public confidence in police," Prof Attafuah intimated.
The lawyer and Director of the William Ofori Atta Institute of Integrity at the Central University believes these accidents only reinforce the need for the setting up of an independent body that could investigate these unfortunate incidents.
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