Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi Boakye, says Tuesday's protests by the angry youth of the area who are disputing the autopsy report would be dealt with a heavy hand if it recurs.
Protestors made up of family and friends of the deceased 22-year-old, Osei Tawiah, and residents of Nana Fodoo Krofrom blocked roads Tuesday and pelted stones at police after the autopsy report was made public.
The report released Monday, May 30, says Tawiah died of congestive heart failure; however, no indication was made about the cause of the fatal heart problem.
However, DCOP Boakye rubbished this assertion arguing that footballers who people see as fit suffers from a similar condition and it is normal.
The angry youth says the report exonerating the officers, about three of them, is compromised. They say Osei Tawiah died at the hands of the policemen.
Police used tear gas to disperse the angry crowd on Tuesday, May 31 morning.
“It is laughable and it is rather unfortunate that any well-meaning person can make that unfortunate allusion [that police connived with the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to shield officers].
The victim was allegedly beaten to a pulp and tasered to death by the unnamed policemen Thursday, May 26.
Eye-witnesses say Tawiah was mistaken for one of two suspects the policemen were chasing.
Three police officers reportedly hit Tawiah with the butt of their guns and tasered him many times until he fell unconscious and later died.
Police have denied these eyewitness reports.
DCOP Boakye insists anybody thinking that the police administration was protecting its officers of wrongdoing “is not a right-thinking person”.
He said Tuesday’s protests would be the last time of such mob action in the area, and vowed to use severe force to quell any acts of violence that are in reaction to Tawiah’s death.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu-Amankwah, says the autopsy report is demoralising.
“I am not a happy person over the conflicting reports about the cause of the death,” he said.
He indicated that although he will not challenge the autopsy report, he shares the sentiments of residents of Krofrom.
He promised to state an official position on whether another inquest report should be conducted after the family marks one week of Tawiah's passing.
Source:Ghanaweb
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