Chiefs protest police brutality against people of Anum Apapam

The chiefs and people of Anum Apapam in the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District, have protested against the Suhum Police for assaulting their chief and a pregnant woman.

The community is also not happy with the poor working relationship between them and the Suhum Police and has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to call his men to order.

Speaking at a Press Conference at the Suhum Community Centre on Tuesday, Nana Kwaku Danso, 74, Kyidomhene of Anum Apapam, wondered whether those who seek the assistance of the police are enemies to the police, because the police in the area had lost its identity as friends and protectors of the good people of the community.

The spokesperson was flanked by Nana Kwadwo Aboagye, 65, Asafoatse of Anum Apapam and Mr Emmanuel Appiah, Vice Chairman of the Concerned Youth Association of Anum Apapam in addition to the stool elders, farmers, traders and the youth of the town who were present at the press conference.

Anum Apapam is one of the sub-districts in the Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District of the Eastern Region. It is on the Suhum–Asamankese road and its the largest marketing centre of foodstuffs in the district.

Nana Danso said the chiefs and the Town Development Committee (TDC) decided to supplement government’s efforts in providing social amenities for the area.

He said on April 2, this year, they wrote to the Suhum Police and copied the District Chief Executive to assist the community to design a police station for the area, to enable them to construct a police post to curb the criminal activities.

Narrating what led to the beating up of the chief, the Kyidomhene said the people decided to hold a demonstration to condemn the social vices and also warn the perpetrators.

He said the chiefs applied for a permit for the demonstration but was denied with the excuse that the biometric registration exercise and the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) would make it difficult for the police to offer protection and surveillance.

Nana Danso said when they tried to impress on the police to allow them to demonstrate, they were beaten up and placed in police custody.

He said a pregnant woman and her mother were not spared and were put in cell, while he and the Asafoatse were taken to Koforidua, where the regional police command was situated,

Nana Danso said they were later brought back to Suhum before they were discharged to go to Anum Apapam.

He therefore appealed to the IGP to investigate the matter and punish those behind the molestations. **