VAT Protest: 5 dead, many injured, 10 arrested

by Rosemary Ardayfio, the People's Daily Graphic, 12 May 1995

Five people have so far been confirmed dead in two hospitals following the demonstration against the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in Accra yesterday.

Four of the five who are all males, died at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital while one died soon on arrival at the 37 Military Hospital.

Dr Seth Koranteng, Medical Director of the Police Hospital said that the body of the man who died at the Military Hospital has been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary. He died from a wound after being stabbed.

Dr Koranteng further stated that 15 other demonstrators with varied degrees of injuries were treated and discharged.

One of them, he said, had a serious head injury with some part of the brain gushing out, which required surgery and was therefore referred to the neurosurgeon at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The rest, he said, sustained "blunt wounds" which could be the result of contact with articles like clubs and stones, with two of them sustaining deep cuts from sharp instruments like knives and cutlasses.

Dr K Frimpong-Boateng of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital said four of the dead persons died as a result of gunshot wounds.

The doctor who was operating on one the wounded demonstrators who had been shot in the groin, at the time of contact, said several other wounded people had been treated and discharged.

Efam Awo Dovi & Ivy Aboagye report that one person, who was in a ACDR "T" shirt who allegedly shot a member of the demonstrators has been arrested and placed in police custody whilst the pistol he used has been confiscated.

Also names of some of the injured persons at the Police Hospital are Kofi Amoako, trader at the Kantamanto market, Addo Sey, carpenter, Collins Appianin, student, Amoakohene, seller, Peter Atanga and Charity Amadu, sellers.

The rest are Abdul Rahman Osumanu, transport owner, Yaw Attoh, trader and an unidentified person who is on admission at 37 Military Hospital.

Ten demonstrators were also arrested for unauthorised road- blocking, according to police source.

Seven of the 10 barricaded the Graphic-Kaneshie Road and looted five crates of minerals from a vehicle, reports Joe Okyere.

The seven are Yaw Opoku, 20, Lantey Larbio, 22, Samuel Danso, 25, Alex Osei, 27, James Ababio, 20, Kwabena Danso, 24 and Kofi Duku, 24.

According to Mr Francis Abayateye, Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Greater Accra Regional Crime Office, the group broke away from the mainstream demonstrators when they reached COCOBOD and set up the road block.

He said the seven charged at the pick-up with registration no. AK 7672 loaded with 35 crates of minerals belonging to Mrs Rita Deh, a retailer as soon as the driver pulled to stop at the road block.

Mr Abayateye said police on patrol who were alerted by the owner on reaching the spot effected their arrest immediately. He said the culprits will be arraigned before the courts soon.