11 policemen dismissed

Story: Albert K. Salia
ELEVEN junior officers of the Ghana Police Service have been dismissed from the service for various acts of misconduct.
Two of the officers were allegedly involved in the Dansoman shooting incident in April 2006 while two others were also dismissed after their indictment in the interception of articulated trucks carrying rice and sugar in September, this year.
Lance Corporal Eric M. Akidi and Constable Godfred Kwasi Kumako were found guilty in connection with the Dansoman shooting incident while Lance Corporals Haruna Adama of the Armoured Squadron Unit and Gomez Abane of the Police Striking Force were found guilty of unlawfully arresting the driver of an articulated truck and stealing the sugar it was conveying.
Ex-Lance Cpls Adama and Abane are currently facing criminal charges in court as well.
The other seven dismissed personnel are ex-L/Cpl Solomon Kwasi Antwi, ex-Constable Stephen Oppong, ex-Constable Henry Nuamah, ex-L/Cpl Eric Nyade Debrah, ex-Constable Francis Amoah and ex-Constables Abdul-Rahamani Mahamadou and Godwin Setsoafia.
The acting Director of Police Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori, who confirmed the dismissals in an interview yesterday, said the personnel were dismissed in line with the Police (Disciplinary Proceedings) Regulations LI 993 and Police Act 350/1970 after they had been charged, tried and found guilty.
He explained that Akidi and Kumako unceremoniously left their duty post on April 21, 2006, for unauthorised operations.
According to him, it was the operation that led to the death of four persons in a Tico taxi at Dansoman.
DSP Ofori said Adama and Abane, in the company of two civilians on September 7, 2007, unlawfully arrested the driver of an articulated truck with registration number AW 744 X carrying 1,000 bags of sugar worth ¢250 million.
He said ex-L/Cpl Antwi misappropriated ¢20 million belonging to a complainant after he had collected it from a suspect in March 2005.
According to DSP Ofori, ex-Constables Oppong and Nuamah, who were both with the Rapid Deployment Force in Kumasi, were dismissed after they had been found guilty of lack of civility, inhumane treatment of a suspect and assaulting three persons at a drinking spot on December 26, 2006.
With regard to ex-L/Cpl Debrah, DSP Ofori said he was also charged with lack of civility and insulting behaviour on January 13, 2006 and found guilty.
He said ex-Constable Amoah, who was stationed at the Regional Mobile Force in Takoradi, was dismissed after he had been found guilty of absenting himself for 169 days without permission.
DSP Ofori said ex-Constables Mahamadou of the Highway Patrol Unit and Setsoafia of the Panthers Unit at the Police Headquarters were found guilty of forcibly collecting ¢23.8 million from a victim under the threat of arresting him on October 2, 2006.
He said the Police Administration was mindful of the fact that contemporary policing was based on discipline, integrity, accountability, excellence, service, honesty, steadfastness and friendliness.
He said any officer who failed to uphold those values was not fit to be in the Ghana Police Service.
DSP Ofori said the Police Administration was waging a crusade against indisciplined personnel and warned that anyone found guilty would not be spared.
He said it was based on that that the Police Administration felt it necessary to inform the public about the disciplinary actions taken so that the public would feel confident in reporting the misconduct of any officer.
According to him, there were more officers on trial and indicated that it was not a nine days’ wonder.
As to whether all those who faced the disciplinary proceedings were dismissed, DSP Ofori answered in the negative.
He explained that some of the personnel were discharged for lack of evidence while others were demoted in rank with others receiving severe reprimand.