Police Deny Report

THE ASHANTI Regional Police command has expressed surprise at a newspaper publication that appeared on the front page of the May 16, 2008 edition of the Ghanaian Times captioned “DRUG GANG KILLS POLICE INFORMANT”.

The Regional Command stated that the publication gave a total misrepresentation of facts of the circumstance which led to the death of the deceased, Fuseini Fawud.

A release issued and signed by Asst. Commissioner of Crime in Ashanti, Mr. Bright Oduro, explained that the true facts of the case was that the deceased, together with his friends, had helped the police in arresting a number of criminals in the Kumasi metropolis, especially armed robbers.

He said a number of such criminals were either on remand or serving various prison sentences.

What happened, according to police investigations, was that on May 12, 2008 at about 6.00 pm the deceased and one of his friends were called on phone by a scrap dealer (name withheld) from old Buaban where the scrap dealer was burning some cables to prepare them for scraps.

He said the scrap dealer, who had acquired a parcel of land at old Buaban on which he usually prepared his scraps for transportation to Tema, told the police that he had information that a group of men with guns and cutlasses were planning to attack him.

The scrap dealer, he said, therefore called the deceased and his friend to come and assist him cart the scraps and also inform the police of the threat.

ACP Oduro said the deceased, on a separate motorbike and two others on another motorbike, therefore proceeded to the scrap dealer's base where they found the man and his workers loading the metal scraps onto a Volvo cargo truck with registration number AS 2408 T to be conveyed to Tema.

He said unknown to the deceased and the others, the group of armed men had allegedly barricaded the road with tables and other implements and had taken cover in the bush nearby to prevent the scrap dealer from getting away.

ACP Oduro said the deceased, on reaching the barrier, attempted to ride through but was shot twice in the abdomen by one of the armed men who had taken cover close by, who then fled amid firing of shots to scare possible pursuers.

The Police, who had earlier been informed of the presence of the armed men, arrived later and conveyed Fuseini to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital at about 7.30pm.

Fuseini, he said, died at about 9.30 am on Wednesday, May 14 after undergoing an emergency operation. Twenty-one pellets were removed from his lower abdomen.

A post-mortem examination, he indicated, was performed on the body the following day and it was released to the family for burial that same day.

He said the police have therefore mounted an intensive search for the group and the regional command has appealed to the general public to assist with vital and accurate information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.

ACP Bright Oduro pointed out that the police dawn swoop on Thursday, May 15, at old Buaben led to the arrest of 16 persons.
One person among the suspects is in custody for his involvement in the incident.

From Stella Danso, Kumasi