The commander of Legon East "lied" – The Accra Regional Police Commander told Short Commission

The Accra Regional Police Command rejected an earlier statement from the East Legon District Police Commander that he was double in the Ayawaso West Wuogon election police operation.

according to Patrick Adusei Sarpong, Accra Region Commander, DCOP, informed all district commanders in the region to be present on election day and to come with their pickup vehicle.

DCOP Sarpong's testimony contradicts that of the DSP George Lysander Asare when he appeared before the Emile Short Board of Inquiry investigating the violence in the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election last Friday.

Ghana News Titles

For the latest news in Ghana, visit the Graphic Online titles page
Ghana News Page

DSP Asare told the commission that he was not part of the official security provisions and that he had not given him grounds for his exclusion although the by-election was held in an electoral district under his command.

According to him, he was only called to help restore calm when the violence erupted.

"I asked the chief superintendent. Kwesi Ofori, Head of Regional Operations in Accra, explained why my name was not part of force of intervention group and he told me that I should not worry … [Accra Regional command] are in charge and even my car, they asked me to take it to the region of Accra … [In] our work, you can not defy such authority, "said DSP Asare to the Commission.

"I was going to vote in my polling station … on the way to get my polling station centerMy regional commander has called to announce that shooting is taking place around Bawaleshie, closer to the home of the NDC parliamentary candidate, so I should go help. So I quickly came back [to the police station] and came and mobilized men from the station who were not part of the operation to go there, "he added.

But the commander of DSP Asare contradicted the testimony of DSP Asare, saying that he personally sent messages to all district commanders via WhatsApp to be present on polling day, but he did not respond. to his message.

According to him, a formal order was sent to all division, district and unit commanders for them to bring their abduction for the operation.

He added that he had then followed the WhatsApp message to the address 9:57 p.m. before polling day that they [the commanders] should report to 5am lead a patrol team.

Below are excerpts of the questions and answers

Emile Short: The East Legon District Commander was given a mission. He was supposed to be part of the election task force, right?

DCOP Sarpong: That's right; meet the patrol.

Emile Short: And he was supposed to bring his vehicle with his driver?

DCOP Sarpong: That's right. It was not him alone. It was all districts in Accra. [They] they were sent copies of signals indicating that they should bring or release their kidnapping for election duties

Emile Short: And you heard his testimony that he was double?

DCOP Sarpong: Yes my Lord, but it is not true.

Emile Short: Since then, have you asked him why he did not answer your message? You said that you sent him a WhatsApp message that you did not answer, is not it?

DCOP Sarpong: Yes m President

Emile Short: And you also stated in your testimony that his testimony that he was double is not correct. Since then, have you had any contact with him as to why he did not respond to your WhatsApp message and his testimony before us that he had been put aside by you, the regional commander?

DCOP Sarpong: Yes, m Mr. President, the day after the elections and when he reported the incident, I told him that he should be there to take care of the situation, because that it was incumbent upon him, so he should take care of it. If he had come, we would have deployed but since I left before his arrival, when he reported the incident, I told him to take care of the situation.

Emile Short: did you interview him and did you learn from him why he said before us that he was not included

DCOP Sarpong: I did not meet him to discuss with him.

Prof. Mensah-Bonsu: You said that you sent a message to the DSP George Asare to appear at 5 o'clock to run a patrol?

DCOP Sarpong: Yes m President.

Prof Mensah-Bonsu: And it was at 9:57 or 17:00?

DCOP Sarpong: pm.

Prof Mensah-Bonsu: And to send a vehicle to the district command?

DCOP Sarpong: Yes m President. m The president let me put in this document, which was a message sent to all division, district and unit commanders to bring their kidnapping for the operation, so it was not for him alone. [but] to all division, unit and district commanders.

Prof Mensah-Bonsu: And was this order before the SMS message you sent?

DCOP Sarpong: Yes, that was the order and it was the to follow.

Mr. Mensah-Bonsu: All right, I wanted to check if he received the order and did not show up because you said he did not answer.

DCOP Sarpong: There was no answer but another officer responded.

Prof Mensah-Bonsu: You said that when you were on the way to East Legon after hearing about the incident, you contacted the district commander?

DCOP Sarpong: He called me.

Prof Mensah-Bonsu: He called you and he said that he was going to the hospital with his child?

DCOP Sarpong: Yes, m President.

Mr. Mensah-Bonsu: Is it normal that when there is a crisis in a place, the commander of the place has time to fulfill his national obligations?

DCOP Sarpong: m When I came to the position of president, I met with the division commander, so I do not know if he had the authorization of the division commander.

Prof Mensah-Bonsu: But is this procedure normal in times of crisis?

DCOP Sarpong: That's not the case.

Prof Mensah-Bonsu: But you did not question the situation?

DCOP Sarpong: Because I met with the division commander, I thought he might have been in contact with him because the division commander was in the district commander's office.