The commander of SWAT describes the violence of Ayawaso as unfortunate

General News of Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-02-19

Deputy Police Superintendent Samuel Kojo Azugu, commander of the SWAT National Security Team, described the January 31 violence in Ayawaso West Wuogon as an unfortunate event.

He added that the SWAT team had been deployed in the constituency to search for an alleged weapon stock in a certain house with the possibility of recovery, but that the mission had failed due to some developments.

The Azugu DSP, who testified Monday before the Ayawaso West Wuogon Inquiry, admitted, however, that his men had not acted professionally in the management of the situation and had therefore had to abandon the operation.

The Commission, chaired by Mr. Francis Emile Short, former Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), was created by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to conduct an investigation large-scale peace of the nation.

The Azugu DSP explained to the Commission that while they were patrolling to build confidence, and that they went to La Bawlesheshie, they heard gunshots from 39, a common house; and so he directed his men there, while they were boarding their vehicles at the Presbyterian Primary School, located about 100 meters away.

DSP Azugu said the number of shots, from the compound house, ranged from 20 to 30 shots.

He stated that in their efforts to search the house, men had thrown stones at his men; noting that, he ordered his men to give six warning shots.

The commander of SWAT said that the warning shots of his men had not hurt anyone.

According to the Azugu DSP, his team managed to arrest nine people and as part of this process, minimal force was applied to those who tried to resist arrest, who were then taken to the police station. East Legon.

However, Commission Member Eric Osei-Mensah told DSP Azugu that records at the East Legon police station showed that he had instead brought seven men; but DSP Azugu claimed to have brought nine people.

The Azugu DSP answered questions about the SWAT team, consisting of 60 men, consisting of 25 police officers and 35 civilian officers, and wearing brown khaki pants, a black t-shirt, a brown vest and masks. .

Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, a member of the Commission, asked DSP Azugu why his men wore masks during their operations. DSP Azugu made it clear that he would not be able to explain why.

During his cross-examination, Mr. Patrick Kwateng Acheampong, Member of the Commission, suggested to DSP Azugu that the SWAT operation was not planned and executed correctly, which was answered by the witness. # 39; affirmative.

"The operation was spontaneous and that's how the service has been working for a while. It is necessary to restore the good functioning and to remedy the failures of the coordination ".

In his testimony before the Commission, Chief Superintendent Isaac Asante, Airport Division Police Commander, stated that, although he was not part of the By-Election Working Group, he was stationed to support the exercise.

Murtala Muhammed, National Secretary of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), said his party, which took part in the by-election, did not believe in the presence of party agents. and it was incumbent on the Electoral Commission to ensure the conduct of the ballot.

He paid tribute to President Akufo-Addo for setting up the Ayawaso West Wuogon Commission to investigate the violence during the by-election, adding that the result, once implemented, would deter security forces to let themselves be manipulated by politicians.

The committee adjourned until Tuesday, 19 February.