The Committee of Inquiry appointed to conduct a public probe into circumstances that led to the death of two persons in Ejura on June 29, has requested extension of the deadline for submission of its report to July 16.

The Committee, appointed on July 2, was expected to hand over a detailed report of their inquiry to the Minister of Interior on Friday, July 9.

A letter addressed to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, the Committee stated that members arrived in Kumasi on Sunday, July 4, and paid a courtesy call to the Ejurahene, the bereaved families and victims of the incident in the hospital on Monday, July 5. 

“The Committee members requested the Ejurahene and his elders to inform and sensitize the residents, especially those with relevant information to avail themselves to testify before the Committee,” parts of the statement read.

The Committee said they have received testimonies from four sources including The Ghana Armed Forces, The Ghana Police Service, the media and the Ashanti Regional Minister.

They revealed they had about seven more testimonies to take, thus, urged the Minister to extend their deadline from July 9 to Friday, July 16.

“Considering the testimonies yet to be taken, the Committee is requesting for an extension of the deadline to complete its work to Friday, the 16th day of July 2021,” the letter read.

Background

On Monday, June 28, it was reported that a social activist, Ibrahim Mohammed who was attacked by an angry mob at Ejura Saturday dawn, had died.

The deceased, was attacked by two assailants, who have allegedly been arrested by the Police. He was repeatedly struck on the head with objects until he lost consciousness.

This news left many Ghanaians and some youth in Ejura in shock. While others took their anger to their online platforms, the youth in the area took to the streets demanding justice for the murdered social activist.

The youth stormed the Police station on Tuesday morning to inquire about the extent of investigations regarding the murder of their colleague and #FixTheCountry activist, stressing that they want the Police to leave no stone unturned in bringing the perpetrators to book.

Pressing home their demand for justice, the youth hit the streets but were met by Military and Police personnel.

However, things turned turbulent as the joint Police and Military team accosted the agitated youth on the streets where the two were shot in the process.

President Akufo-Addo, following the disturbances, called on the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, to conduct a public inquiry into the circumstances that led to the death of two persons in Ejura that fateful Tuesday.

A press statement signed by the Ag. Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, indicated that the President has given the Minister, ten days to provide a detailed report of the inquiry for actions to be taken.

“The Interior Minister is to provide a detailed report from the inquiry, with recommendations for appropriate action to be taken by July 9, 2021”,

The Committee is chaired by George Kingsley Koomson, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Security Expert, Dr Vladimir Antwi Danso and Juliet Amoah, Executive Director of Penplusbyte, a civil society organisation.

Marie Louis Simmons, a Principal State Attorney is Secretary to the committee.