Kekeli E.P. Church petitions police over assault of member

Ho, May 04, GNA - The Kekeli Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Ho on Monday petitioned the Volta Regional Police Command to investigate an incident in which two policemen allegedly assaulted its member resulting in damages to one of his eardrums.

Mr Bubu Ametame, an employee of the National Population Council (NPC) Ho office, was allegedly assaulted by the said policemen at the Ho main branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank on Wednesday, April 29 this year. Briefing the media, Reverend Lordson Koku Dzanku, Pastor in charge of the Church said Ametame went to the bank that day to withdraw money and also collect bank statement for his boss. He said while in the queue, two female Prison Officers came and jumped the queue which he (Ametame) protested. Rev. Dzanku said the ladies who left the bank after withdrawing money returned to the bank accompanied by a man in mufti who claimed to be a policeman.

He said the ladies pointed Ametame out to the "policeman" who told Ametame that he was under arrest and started assaulting him. Rev. Dzanku alleged that Ametame was booted to the ground, stamped on and hit with the butt of a gun, handcuffed and sent to the Ho Central Police Station.

He said in the process Ametame misplaced his mobile phone and 200 Ghana cedis which he withdrew from the bank. Rev. Dzanku said after six hours of stay behind the counter, the police demanded Gh¢35.00 from Mr Edwin Dakey, Volta Regional Director of the NPC who called at the Police station to bail Mr Ametame. He said after Mr Ametame's release, Mr Samuel Tetteh, District Police Commander invited Mr Darkey, Mr Ametame, the two Prison ladies and an Officer from the Prisons to his Office where the ladies opted not to pursue the case and that the decision was documented and signed by all those present.

Rev. Dzanku described the incident as unprofessional and "very appalling" and called for the immediate investigation into the incident.

He said; "The Church today cannot sit down unconcerned for its members to be brutalized in such a manner. The Church will pursue this case until justice is done."

Rev. Dzanku observed that molestation of civilians by some police personnel was becoming rampant and needed to be stopped by the Police Administration with the help of civil society organizations such as the Church.

Mr Samuel Tetteh, the District Police Commander however denied knowledge of the incident and claimed he had been out of town for the past one week.