The Ghana Police Service has interdicted four personnel of the Service with the Tamale Regional Police Command for allegedly assaulting some residents of Tamale in the Northern Region.
According to a statement by the Police Service, the 4 Officers allegedly assaulted residents during an assignment by NEDCO/VRA officials to apprehend persons allegedly involved in illegal power connections.
A victim alleged that he was lashed after the Police accused him of trying to make a call to someone. Others also complained that they were handcuffed and detained. The viral video of the assault had been widely condemned by some Ghanaians.
The incident happened in Zujung, Lamashegu and Nakpan Zou in the Northern Regional capital on Monday, September 20, 2021. The 4 interdicted Officers are expected to face a service inquiry.
Efforts are also being made to identify the victims for the necessary medical assessments and assistance.
Background
Some residents of Nimafong and Zujung in the Tamale Metropolis alleged they were assaulted by some Police Personnel over a supposed power theft. In a video which had since gone viral, a Police officer was seen whipping a man while in another video, a man in handcuffs was seen lying on the floor pleading with armed Police Officers surrounding him. The incident occurred on September 20, 2021. When GBC News Correspondent Murtala Issah, visited the community, residents revealed that, after the Police arrested some people, they started assaulting almost everyone they chanced upon.
Civil Society Platform on Good Governance condemns.
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Platform on Good Governance has condemned the alleged assault by Police Personnel in Tamale saying such acts have no place under the current democratic dispensation. A Spokesperson for the group, Philip Alaika Phillip, in an interview with the media in Tamale, called for an investigation into the matter to bring the perpetrators to justice.
A Public Relations Officer for NEDCO/VRA, Alhassan Abaaba in an interview said the organization is investigating the matter and would soon make its findings public.
