Student killed in Police morning operation in Ho

Ho, June 10, GNA - An early morning swoop on Sunday by the police at Anlokordzi, a suburb of Ho, has resulted in the death of a Senior High School leaver, Atsu Mensah.

Some young men sustained various degrees of injury during reported fisticuffs when youth infuriated by the death of Mensah, charged on the police.

Mr Victor Kwawukume, a journalist working for the Daily Graphic, and also Volta Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, was allegedly beaten by the police, for taking pictures of the melee.

An eyewitness told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that at about 0600 hours, three policemen went to “Kpako House,” behind the Metro Mass Transit terminal, in the Ho Municipality, for an operation.

He said the police spotted three youth in the house and ordered them to kneel down.

The eyewitness said the young people obliged while the police searched rooms in the house, as part of the operation.

He said when the police were about to enter another room, the youth, who were on their knees, took to their heels, and the police shot at them killing Mensah.

The witness said some youth in the area infuriated by the death of Mensah blocked major streets in the suburb and started throwing stones at the police.

He said a joint police-military re-enforcement arrived shortly to restore order.

The eyewitness said retreating youth attacked a man thought to be a policeman in camouflage, but the police quickly moved in to save the situation.

The eyewitness said the police swarmed the area and arrested some passersby and residents and beat them up.

Mr Kwawukeme told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that when he went to the scene to take photograph of the scuffle, the police assaulted him and seized his camera.

Meanwhile a press release, signed by Mr Henry Ford Kamel, Volta Regional Minister, and chairman of the Regional Security Committee (RESGSEC), copied to GNA on Sunday, assured the public of a transparent investigation into the development.

It said: “The Volta Regional Security Committee's attention has been drawn to the unfortunate shooting of a young man during a Police operation at Anlokodzi, a suburb of Ho.

“REGSEC would like to assure the good citizens that a transparent and independent committee of enquiry would be formed to investigate the incident.”

The statement said the chairman and members of REGSEC consoled the bereaved family of the deceased, and called on the citizens of Anlokordzi to exercise restraint and remain calm.

GNA