Confrontation In Wa unfortunate — Caucus

The Upper West Caucus in Parliament has learnt with considerable dismay and grief the recent confrontation between the Wa Police and civilians following the unwarranted killing of an unarmed and defenceless youth and the shooting and severe beating of other innocent and law-abiding citizens in Wa.

The caucus sees this as an unfortunate, disturbing and unwelcome development in a usually peaceful and law-abiding region without any history of civilian-police confrontation, even in abnormal times.

A statement signed by Mr Edward K. Salia, the Leader of the Upper West Caucus in Parliament and MP for Jirapa, said: “We condemn the excessive use of police firepower and force against unarmed civilians and call on all peace-loving people and organisations to do the same.”

It expressed the group's condolences to the family of the bereaved whose death was caused by a trigger-happy and callous policeman and wished the injured a speedy recovery from the wounds inflicted on them by the police. The statement commended the Upper West Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for setting up an investigative committee.

“We urge the committee to submit its report on the time, so that justice would be pursued speedily to assuage the concerns of the afflicted and restore Wa and the Upper West Region to their usual peace and tranquility,” it said.

“Finally,while we share with the entire region the grief of this unnecessary shooting and the resultant confrontation,we nevertheless call on both parties to exercise maximum restraint,”the statement added.