Dagbon Forum a pressure group within the Northern Region is calling for fair punishment, application of the law and due process, administration of justice and fair compensation to all the victims who directly or indirectly affected during last Sunday clash between some irate youth of Lamashegu and the Police.
According to the group, they recognize and appreciate steps taken by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), including the interdiction process. However, the group want the outcome of the investigation to be made public as they will continue to calm the nerves of residents of the Lamashegu community.
The group at a press briefing on Thursday 17 February, 2022 stated that, “we shall not rest until justice is done, and the reckless conduct on the part of the police is stopped”.
Vice President for Dagbon Forum, Chief Sintaro Mahama, Sakoya Naa, who address the media on behalf the group, while expressing their displeasure about the continue police brutality within the Tamale Metropolis, also called on the Minister of Interior and the IGP to as a matter of urgency, restore the professional policing within the area.
Read the full statement bellow
Dagbon Forum 15th February, 2022
Press Release on recent Police Brutalities in Tamale Metropolis
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media, Representatives of Traditional and Religious Leaders,
Distinguished Guests, Citizens of Tamale. Today’s news conference is necessitated by the
persistent police brutalities perpetuated by some unprofessional police officers in the Tamale
Metropolis. We are here to raise deep concerns and unequivocally condemn the recent police
actions carried out in the Tamale Metropolis.
The most recent was the uncalled-for incident at the precincts of Lamashe-Naa’s Palace on
Sunday 13 th February, 2022. As widely recounted on various media platforms, some
amateurish police officers reportedly chased unarmed civilians to the forecourt of Lamashe-
Naa’s Palace, sporadically fired gunshots, injured several people and killed one person.
This act of impunity brought back memories of numerous police brutalities recorded in the
Tamale Metropolis in the last two years. It is against this background, Dagbon Forum is
calling on the Minister of Interior, Hon. Ambrose Derry and the Inspector General of Police
(IGP), Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare to speed up investigations and bring the perpetrators to
book.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you recall that at about 3am on 18 th April, 2021, at dawn, some police
officers undertook armed operation in the densely populated Changli and Dagban Dabbi-fong
communities, suburbs of Tamale. The police invaded homes and unleashed mayhem on
innocent civilians.
Whilst many people were injured, in fact, one victim, was shot in the head and had to
undergo surgery at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. The police reportedly damaged several
properties.
Just a week before the Changli incident, police officers assaulted residents of Kukuo and
under the pretext of enforcing corona virus safety protocols. Earlier, some police officers
assaulted, injured and reportedly destroyed properties of residents of Kanvili-Kpawumo,
Tishigu, Zujung, and Sabongida,
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Media, the Tamale Metropolitan Police Command is squarely
to be blamed for allowing the situation to get to this unfortunate state.
What we can say clearly is that we have received reports, and have witnesses, of excessive
use of force by some security officers, shooting, live ammunition being used, beatings of
innocent citizens as well as detentions in the Tamale Metropolis over the last two years.
Dagbon Forum (DF) is alarmed by what appears to be total disregard of the traditional
authority of Dagbon, in ways that constitute violations of, and an affront to the constitution
and laws of the country.
Recall that on 16th January 2020, some police officers in Yendi chased an articulator truck
driver and his mate to the Dagbon Overlord, Yaa-Naa’s Palace. They assaulted, arrested and
injured the driver and his mate at the forecourt of the King’s palace.
A related incident occurred at the Sagnar-Naa’s Palace and now the palace of Lamashe-Naa. Enough is enough.
As the official mouthpiece of Dagbon, we are by this press release, sending a strong message
to the Minister of Interior and the IGP to as a matter of urgency restore professional policing
in the Tamale Metropolis and beyond.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana
