We’re Sorry •Say Police

THREE DAYS after the death of Moses Kasim, an 11-year-old victim of the recent Ashaiman riot, a powerful six-man Police delegation has called on the bereaved family with the message: “We regret the death of the little boy.”

Virtually on their knees, the team, which was led by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, showed deep remorse for the unfortunate death of Moses and a driver during the police-drivers clash on Tuesday.

DAILY GUIDE has also gathered that the MTTU Commander in charge of Tema and Ashaiman, ASP Timothy Dassah has been interdicted for displaying gross unprofessionalism.

The interdicted officer did not only flout the orders of the IGP about embarking on traffic operations, but he also failed to notify his regional commander, DCOP John Kudalor about his intention to go on operation.

The interdiction, according to the paper's sources, followed a closed-door meeting the IGP held with police chiefs at Tema and Ashaiman.

At separate meetings with the bereaved families, Mr. Acheampong apologized for the incident and promised a swift investigation into the matter.

At the family home of Moses, the late class 4 pupil, there was uncontrollable shedding of tears by members of the household, even as the IGP tried to console them - a development that strongly suggested that last Tuesday's loss was, to them, irreplaceable.

He gave the assurance that in the interim, the Police administration would bear the cost of the burial and funeral of the victims, after which a joint committee of police and family members would work out modalities with the Attorney-General's office for possible compensation.

And as a first step, DCOP Kudalor, ACP Kwarne, Ashaiman Divisional Commander, and Chief Superintendent Dogbeda, Tema Regional Crime Officer, have been tasked to handle all arrangements of the burial and funeral of the victims as ethnic customs would demand.

The IGP finally charged the Tema Regional Command to investigate Tuesday's incident and report back to him as early as possible, stressing that those who would be found culpable would surely be punished.

After the meetings, the countenance and response of Moses' stepfather, Mr. Alidu Kasim, indicated that some tempers must have been calmed.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE after the meeting, stepfather of the deceased, who looked calm, said the Police had assured the family that they would bear the burial and funeral expenses of little Moses.

In a manner that appeared to have been a departure from the earlier charged mood of the family, Kasim said, “Well, they gave us a number and asked us to call a certain officer who would tell us where the body is and when to collect it for interment”.

The consolation trip followed a DAILY GUIDE report yesterday about the non-appearance of such a delegation at the bereaved family's residence since the incident.

In a related development the IGP has held several meetings with the police and later with all the transport unions at Ashaiman.

DSP Kwesi Ofori, Police Public Affairs Director, who confirmed this when the paper called on him, said Mr. Acheampong advised officers to desist from dictatorial tendencies in the discharge of their duties, but rather make respect for human rights the pillar of all their activities.

He called for consensus-building and recommended programmes that would enlist assistance from the public.

Interacting with leadership of the transport unions, the IGP, according to Kwesi Ofori, advised them to remain law-abiding but report any police abuse to the region or headquarters.

Moses Kasim was shot in the head when he was returning from attending to nature's call at Ashaiman on Tuesday during a riot involving the Police and commercial drivers in the Tema suburb.

A Good Samaritan, who lifted the lifeless body of Moses just before the threshold of the Ashaiman Police Station, drew a bullet and also dropped dead.

So fierce was the encounter between the Police and the drivers that reinforcement had to be called in to restore order.

A rumour that one of the drivers arrested earlier for a road traffic infringement had died in Police cells prompted the riot.

While an irate crowd hurled stones at the Police over the death of the boy, the latter responded with live bullets.

The Tema Regional Police Commander, John Kudalor, had told journalists that but for his timely intervention things could have been worse. He initially defended his men by saying “The police acted spontaneously.”

He also said that he had ordered his men not to use live bullets but as it turned out, the policemen used their AK47s, making the engagement fatal.

Meanwhile, Mr. Augustine Kyeremeh, GPRTU Trustee for Ashaiman has blamed the police for the violence.

“They have taken us for granted, and if things continue this way then nobody knows tomorrow,” he lamented.

The Police have promised calling on the bereaved family again after a scheduled meeting with representatives of the drivers' union.

By Bennett Akuaku & Razak Mardogyz Abubakar