Weightlifting contest turns bloody

Page 21: Daily Graphic, August 29, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
What began as a weightlifting competition by Liberian refugees at Gomoa Budumburam last Saturday, turned into a brawl in which at least one person was stabbed.
The row prompted the police to intervene by firing warning shots to restore order. In the process, the Kasoa District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jordan Quaye, who led a team of policemen to foil a mob action at the Budumburam Police Station and arrest the perpetrators, had his share of the brutalities when he was hit with a stone that left him with a deep cut on his forehead.
So far four suspects have been arrested by the police to help in their investigations. They are Abraham Collison, the organiser of the competition, his girlfriend, Love Dennis, 22, Jerry Brown and Reuben Konu, 31. With the exception of Collison, who had been granted police enquiry bail to seek treatment, the others are all in custody.
According to the police, an illegal weightlifting competition was organised by some Liberians at the Glenns Egyir Unitz Entertainment Centre last Saturday but a fight ensued between the girlfriend of the organiser of the competition and some spectators.
In the ensuing confusion, bottles were broken, people were stabbed and gunshot were fired.
According to DSP Quaye, the co-owner of the centre, Ms Adelaide Bamfo, reported the incident to the Kasoa Police on August 23, 2009 with injuries she sustained from the brawl.
He said Ms Bamfo mentioned Collision as the person who stabbed her and a number of persons who were at the centre to have fun.
According to him, the complainant then led the police to effect the arrest of Collison on that same day but he resisted arrest and shouted for help, claiming he was being attacked.
The Kasoa Police Commander said a mob of more than 400 people quickly gathered at the residence of Collison and tried to prevent the police from effecting Collison’s arrest.
He said the mob started throwing stones and anything they could lay hands on, one of which hit his (DSP Quaye’s) head resulting in the cut he sustained.
He said the situation was brought under control after the police fired warning shots.
DSP Quaye said after calm was restored, the suspects were arrested and taken to the Kasoa Police Station for questioning.
According to him, while at the police station, the police had information that the mob was planning to attack the Budumburam Police Station, which was manned by two persons.
He said he quickly mobilised a team of police personnel to Budumburam where he explained to the mob that Collison and his colleagues were being questioned into the disturbances of August 22, 2009 and would be released if they were not found culpable.
DSP Quaye said based on that explanation, the mob dispersed.
He said calm had since been restored to the area while the suspects would be put before court.