The Ghana Police Service has admitted that a better approach to tackling the riot at Kumasi Islamic Senior High School could have been employed.
According to the Service, a more calculated tactic could have led to a much salient resolution to the chaos and not the development that was seen in the Ashanti Region town on Monday.
On the back of this, some top police officers in the jurisdiction have been interdicted, including the Deputy Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kwasi Akomeah-Apraku.
He was acting as the Ashanti Regional Police Commander at the time of the chaos.
Two other police officers have been interdicted to allow for investigations to take place.
About 25 students were hospitalised after Police allegedly opened tear gas on them while they were protesting frequent crashes of pedestrians in front of the school.
The victims were said to be part of a group of students who blocked the Abrepo Junction-Barekese road during the protest.
The angry students had massed up on the road in protest, as they called for the construction of speed ramps on that section of the road.
Regional Director of the National Ambulance Service, Sommit Duut, said all the victims were responding to treatment.
He, however, stressed that they did not treat any traumatic injury like that of gunshot wounds. According to him, the students instead suffered respiratory distress.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare subsequently paid a visit to the school to get first-hand details of the incident.
The visit was part of investigations being conducted by the Police administration.
Dr. George Akuffo Dampare after his visit, assured students and Management of the school that he will look into the conduct of Police officers deployed for crowd control during their protest.
While addressing the students, the IGP said investigations will be conducted into the matter to ensure the necessary action is taken.
Tonight, the preliminary report has been released. The statement signed by Police Director of Public Affairs, Grace Ansah-Akrofi explained that "even though nobody was hit by a bullet, the Police handling of the incident was poor and fell short of our standard operating procedure on crowd control."
Aside from the Deputy Regional Commander's removal, the two other officers who were interdicted to make way for a thorough investigation comprise the Regional Operations Officer, ACP George Ankonah and Suame Divisional Police Commander, ACP Alex Cudjoe Acquah.
Additionally, the press release indicated that the issue has been taken up by the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) as they have commenced a full-scale investigation into the conduct of the officers who used that approach to disperse the students.
Clinical psychologists have also, per the statement, been deployed to offer assistance to the student body.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has also launched a separate investigation into Monday’s chaos.
Latest Stories
-
Western Region: NDC youth wing embarks on phase 2 of ‘retail campaign’
4 mins -
Action Chapel International holds annual Impact Convention in November
4 mins -
Jana Foundation urges young women to take up leadership roles
9 mins -
All set for Joy FM Prayer Summit for Peace 2024
20 mins -
Managing Prediabetes with the Help of a Dietitian
39 mins -
Joy FM listeners criticise Achiase Commanding Officer’s election comment
60 mins -
Legal Aid Commission employees threaten strike over poor working conditions
1 hour -
Ghana ranked 7th globally as biggest beneficiary of World Bank funding
1 hour -
IMF board to disburse $360m to Ghana in December after third review
1 hour -
Former Bono Regional NPP organiser donates 13 motorbikes to 12 constituencies
1 hour -
Securities industry: Assets under management estimated at GH¢81.7bn in quarter 3, 2024
1 hour -
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation challenges graduates to maximise benefits of community apprenticeship programme
3 hours -
GBC accuses Deputy Information Minister Sylvester Tetteh of demolishing its bungalow illegally
3 hours -
Boost for education as government commissions 80 projects
3 hours -
NAPO commissions library to honour Atta-Mills’ memory
4 hours