The police commander was "put out" during a bloody by-election in his district

General News of Friday, February 15, 2019

Source: Myjoyonline.com

2019-02-15

The Short Commission investigating the violence in the by-election of Ayawaso West Wuogon was informed of how the district commander of the region had been sidelined in the security organization for the polls.

DSP George Asare, head of the East Legon District Police, said that although the exercise was within his jurisdiction, another police officer was brought in to take care of him. # 39; exercise.

This officer, Chief Superintendent Kwasi Ofori, was his deputy and was in charge of operations that day, January 31st.

At least 15 people were hospitalized. Some, shot and wounded during the routine by-election, were marked by political violence.

In his testimony to the Commission, the DSP Asare stated that he had been informed that security issues in by-elections needed to be addressed at the regional level.

He added that he had been summoned by Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP, Patrick Adusei Sarpong, after the violence that erupted in La Bawaleshie.

His job was to investigate scenes of violence at the polling station in La Bawaleshie.

According to him, he led five officers to reinforce about five others at the scene and drew attention to how his "tactical" intervention had helped to defuse tensions.

DSP Asare said that he had returned to search for seven suspects under the custody of the East Legon District Police. Two had minor injuries to the head.

He added that he did not want to interrogate them until they learned that they had visited polling stations to donate food and protect NDC party agents.

According to him, he did not conduct any further interrogations because he "did not want to embarrbad them".

In any case, there would be investigations, he explained.

Commissioners Patrick Acheampong, former Inspector General of Police and Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu attempted to point out to the witness that he was unhappy to be left out and that he was doing little to maintain the Public order, gather evidence and ensure that injured suspects receive medical care. .

The former IGP, in particular, questioned the DSP and was interested in why it had been excluded and the steps it had taken to find out the reasons for its exclusion.

The DSP had already explained, "in our work, we do not challenge the authority".