President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has announced a compensation package totaling GH¢1,750,000 to be paid to the families of the victims of last year’s Asawase shooting incident.
According to President Akufo-Addo, GH¢250,000 for each of the 7 families is to be paid to the dependents of the deceased, explaining that “even though money cannot replace the life of a human being, it is being offered as a way of accepting the responsibility of the State in this tragic affair.”
In the circumstances, the President appealed to residents of Asawase and the families of the victims to continue to exercise restraint as this sad, unfortunate matter is addressed within the confines of the law and due process.
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Tuesday, January 8, 2019, when he delivered a speech at the Zongo for Peace and Development Conference, an initiative of the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development.
Addressing the gathering, the President indicated that, based on the recommendations of the committee set up to look into the matter, he directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to interdict the police personnel involved.
“Processes have been initiated that will result in the prosecution of any police person who is allegedly found to have acted outside the law,” he added.
Whilst acknowledging that some irresponsible people are exploiting the inevitable gap between the occurrence of the event and its final resolution to instigate residents of Asawase to resort to violence, President Akufo-Addo urged them to continue to ignore these agents provocateurs, and continue to hold the peace, as they have done.
“I assure you that justice will be served. I am determined on it,” he stressed.
President Akufo-Addo’s announcement was greeted with a positive reaction by the people around.
In an interview, Abubakar Alhassan, relative of one of the victims, said even though government has shown good will in the matter, the family would wait until final determination of the prosecution by the Court.
An uncle of another victim of the police shooting, Adam Malik, narrated how his nephew met his untimely death and how the family is going to manage the compensation package from government.
