Susuanso Youth Clash With Police

Space FM,Sunyani,July 25 - Aggrieved youth of Susuanso, near Duayaw Nkwanta in the Brong Ahafo region, on Wednesday morning assualted three police officers who had gone to the town to effect an arrest in connection with a land litigation.

The three officers, Lance Corporal Martin Atorkui, Lance Corporal Eric Nukporse and Constanble Frederick Sarpong, were rushed to the Duayaw Nkwanta Hospital and treated for various degrees of injuries they sustained.

The Brong Ahafo Police Commander, DCOP Kwaku Ayesu Opare Addo, who obviously was worried, told Space FM that the three officers were detailed to arrest Yaw Appiah, who is alleged to have sprayed some weedicide on the teak plantation of Paul Boakye, an employee of Newmont Ghana Gold.The two are disputing over a portion of land at Susuanso and Boakye is said to have reported the matter to the police.

The Police Commander said when the police officers got to the town,some people raised an alarm and the youth of the area attacked them without any provocation. He warned that until the perpetrators are exposed, the town would know no peace. "I call on the chiefs and elders of the town to surrender the culprits else the police would deal ruthlessly with the town", he threatened.

The regional Commander wondered why communities should continue attacking police officers in the line of duty. "Policemen also have families and friends, we should be accorded respect when performing their duties", he added."What would have been the reaction of the public if if it were the police who attacked civilians?", he asked. But according to the Assemblyman for the area, Hon. Daniel Yeboah, when the police got to the town to arrest Appiah at about 4am, he resisted arrest because he could not indentify them as police officers. A struggle ensued and in the process, Appiah collasped from police beatings and was taken to the hospital by the youth,after the police attempted leaving him behind in that state. He has however been discharged.

The assemblyman said it was apparently how the police manhandled Appiah that might have driven the youth of the town to go to the aid of their colleague, resulting in the disturbances.

He continued that Appiah's wife, whose name could not be given, was arrested and sent to the Duayaw Nkwanta station when she went to report the matter to the Yamfo Police.