Coalition for Accountable Leadership, a youth advocacy, anti-corruption and policy analyst group has asked the Inspector General of Police, Asante Apeatu to as a matter of urgency constitute an independent committee to investigate the activities at the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Office on the 24th of June, 2017 which led to the death of two (2) civilians.
At the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Station on the 24th of June, 2017, a crowd of mourners besieged the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Station to demand for the release of some of their colleagues who were on detention at the police station.
In order to prevent the crowd from destroying public property and the unlawful release of those on detention, the policemen stationed at the police station subsequently opened fire at the crowd. Subsequently, two people sustained life threatening gun wounds and subsequently died as a result of the gun wounds.
According to the group, “the terms of reference of the committee so established should include but not limited to an interpretation of Article 13 (2) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana which states inter alia that “A person shall not be held to have deprived another person of his life in contravention of clause (1) of this article if that other person as the result of a lawful act of war or if that other person dies as the result of the use of force to such an extend as is reasonably justifiable in the particular circumstances”.
The group called on the IGP “publishes the findings of the committee in the spirit of transparency, to enrich public trust in the service and in accordance with Section 23 (4)(a) of the Police Service Act (Act 350), 1970.”
Read The Full Statement Here
PETITION ON POLICE GUNSHOTS WHICH LED TO THE DEATH OF TWO CIVILIANS
We wish to bring to your attention an unsavory incident which happened at the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Station on the 24th of June, 2017. On the said day, a crowd of mourners besieged the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Station to demand for the release of some of their colleagues who
were on detention at the police station. In order to prevent the crowd from destroying public property and the unlawful release of those on detention, the policemen stationed at the police station subsequently opened fire at the crowd. Subsequently, two people sustained life threatening gun wounds and subsequently died as a result of the gun wounds.
We recognize strongly the enviable role of the police to ensure law and order and to maintain public safety as contained in Section 1 (1) of the Police Service Act (Act 350) which states that “It shall be the duty of the police service to prevent and detect crime, to apprehend offenders, and to maintain public order and the safety of persons and property”. Emphasis needs to be placed on the role of the police to maintain the safety of persons. It is very sad that the very people who are legally entrusted to ensure the safety and the lives of citizens are the very people who are rather taking lives.
Conversant of the right to life which is entrenched under Article 3 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and Article 13 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, this act (shooing at the crowd) by the police which led to the demise of civilians is a violation of the fundamental human right to life.
Pursuant to the incident at the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Station on the 24th of June, 2017 that led to the demise of two (2) civilians by gun wounds inflicted by the police stationed at the Police Station on the above stated day, we pray that:
- The Inspector General of Police immediately constitutes an independent committee to investigate the activities at the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Office on the 24th of June, 2017 which led to the death of two (2) civilians
- That the Inspector General of Police publishes the findings of the committee in the spirit of transparency, to enrich public trust in the service and in accordance with Section 23 (4)(a) of the Police Service Act (Act 350), 1970.
- That the terms of reference of the committee so established will include but not limited to an interpretation of Article 13 (2) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana which states inter alia that “A person shall not be held to have deprived another person of his life in contravention of clause (1) of this article if that other person as the result of a lawful act of war or if that other person dies as the result of the use of force to such an extend as is reasonably justifiable in the particular circumstances”.
- That the terms of reference of the committee so established will include but not limited to whether or not the gunning of a civilian at the back which subsequently led to his death was reasonably justifiable under the particular circumstance of Article 13 clause 2 (a)(b)(c) and (d)
- That the impartial committee identifies the police officer (s) who shot at the crowd leading to the demise of the two (2) civilians
- That the committee so established should investigate the mens rea (express malice or implied malice or negligence or purpose) of the police officer (s) who shot at the crowd which consequently led to the death of two (2) civilians
- That any police officer or officers found culpable in the death of the two (2) civilians should be made to face the full rigors of the law and appropriate sanctions exacted on them to deter others and restore public confidence in the police service
- That appropriate compensation should be given to the families of the two (2) deceased.
With reference to Section 23(1) of the Police Service Act (Act 350), 1970 “any member of the public shall be entitled without prejudice to any other means of redress legally available to him, to make a complaint in writing, signed by him” which provides the authority under which the public can make complaints concerning the service and Article 3 (4)(a) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana which in bides in the citizenry the responsibility to protect the constitution and the laws of Ghana, we would like to present the above stated prayers herein contained in this petition for your consideration.
Cc:
Upper East Regional Minister
Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive
All Media Houses
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Alagskomah Eugene
055023144
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