Police investigating viral confrontation involving officer and towing personnel

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has distanced its Security Taskforce from a viral social media video showing a police officer brandishing a gun during a confrontation with personnel of a towing service in Kumasi.

The video, which has attracted widespread public attention, shows a uniformed police officer drawing a firearm during a heated exchange with workers of Day and Night Towing Service, a company contracted by the Assembly.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 22, the KMA said its preliminary investigations established that the incident stemmed from an attempt by the towing company to remove a vehicle parked at an unauthorised location and did not involve the Assembly's Security Taskforce.

"The KMA considers this incident unfortunate and highly avoidable," the statement read in part.

According to the Assembly, the incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, at Roman Hill in the Central Business District of Kumasi.

It said personnel of the towing company had clamped a saloon car parked in an unauthorised area and were preparing to tow it when a uniformed police officer, identified as Y.E. Aboagye, arrived and claimed ownership of the vehicle.

The Assembly said the officer questioned the authority of the towing personnel to remove the vehicle, leading to a verbal altercation during which he allegedly threatened to shoot one of the workers in the foot if the vehicle was towed.

"While condemning the incident, the Assembly wishes to state categorically that it did not involve its Security Taskforce," it stated.

It added that the matter has been reported to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation.