By Rachel Kakraba
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Akwesi Akomeah Apraku, alongside two other senior officers have been interdicted following the disturbances at the Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi.
DCOP Kwasi Akomeah-Apraku was acting as the regional commander at the time of the incident. DCOP Akomeah-Apraku has also been removed from his position. The two other officers who have been affected by the directive are Regional Operations Officer ACP, George Akomah and the Suame Divisional Police Commander ACP Alex Cudjoe Acquah. Their interdiction is to make way for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The Police admit that the operation to quell the students’ riots was not properly handled.
Students of the Islamic Senior High School took to the streets and blocked sections of the road due to what they say are the frequent motor traffic accidents in front of the school.
A statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Police, Chief Superintendent Grace Ansah-Akrofi said the police responded to disperse the students in order to open the road to traffic.
Explaining further, the statement said the students pelted the police with stones and in an attempt to restore law and order, the police used pepper spray and fired warning shots. The statement said preliminary investigations into the incident established poor handling of the situation by the officers deployed to contain the situation at the school and fell short of the standard operating procedures on crowd control.
The police Professional Standards Bureau has since commenced a full-scale investigation into the conduct of the officers who were responsible for the response.
Meanwhile, police officers and students who sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital have been treated and discharged.
Police clinical psychologists have also been deployed to visit the school to offer psychological support to the student body.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the presence of the IGP on campus has brought some calm to the Student body.
Leadership of the Ministry of Education and other officials have also visited the school to understand exactly the magnitude of the Student complaints.
