By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Ghana’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has revealed that his outfit has so far arrested eight (8) persons in connection with the recent violent incidents recorded during the Ablekuma North 19 polling stations by-election.
Addressing executives and some members of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), during a meeting between the leadership of the Police administration and executives of the inky fraternity, the IGP disclosed that the suspects are being processed and will soon face the law.
“As of yesterday, I have 8 suspects. Eight suspects have been arrested, they are being processed, and from the advice I had from the regional commander, it means that tomorrow they will put them before the court. Either tomorrow or Friday, all these suspects will be put before the court,” Mr Yohuno explained.
He indicated that the Police administration under his watch is determined to ensure justice. “We are making progress, and then we will make sure that, whatever happens, justice will be served to those people who, in one way or the other, did not professionally do their work,” he added.
The IGP also addressed concerns about the police officer who assaulted a journalist during the Ablekuma North rerun. He clarified that, contrary to rumours, the officer had not been transferred but was interdicted.
“Within the shortest possible time, we withdrew this policeman, and also, what we did was that we had to interdict him. When you are interdicted, your uniform is taken away from you, and you cannot go back to work. And there is a rumour going around that we have transferred the policeman from where he is to another police station, which is never true,” he stated.
He explained that the Police Professional Standards Bureau had completed investigations into the officer’s conduct.
“That investigation has been completed and handed over to me. So it means that a service enquiry is going to be conducted into his conduct and then the appropriate sanction will follow,” the IGP reiterated.
He further revealed that disciplinary action will soon be taken.
“Just yesterday I received a report from the professional standards department which said that we can go ahead and constitute a disciplinary action through our service orders against the police officer,” the IGP added.
