Donkorkrom residents attack police
Four persons who were caught in a standoff between residents of Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains North District in the Eastern Region and the police are currently in critical conditions after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Advertisement
Some irate residents of Donkorkrom set the police station and barracks ablaze, forcing the police to fire shots to disperse the mob.The four are currently on admission at the Presbyterian Hospital at Donkorkrom.
The police commander's residence was also set on fire.
Protest
Their action was in protest against the escape of two policemen who are suspected to be part of an armed robbery gang that attacked a bullion van last Tuesday. The driver of the van was killed in the attack.
The policemen are Abrokwah Kissi and Solomon Elvis Mensah aka Fire, while the civilian accomplice is Dejimah Mohammed. The driver was Mr David Sarpong.
The demonstrators claimed the police were behind the numerous robberies in the Afram Plains; hence, their decision to stage a massive demonstration to register their anger at the alleged connivance of the police with the alleged criminals.
Police officers at the station and the barracks who were overpowered by the residents fled for their lives as they fired warning shots into the air to scare the angry residents but the demonstrators were unperturbed.
According to an eyewitness, Mr Moses Tangbe, the youth and market women at Donkorkrom fought with the police who in turn threw tear-gas to disperse the crowd.
Mr Tangbe said about eight cars at the police barracks were set ablaze. Unfortunately, the demonstrators prevented the Ghana National Fire Service in the area from having access to the station to put out the fire.
Order to shoot
The eye witness said when they realised that the situation was getting out of hand, one of the policemen ordered his men to shoot at the crowd, resulting in the four persons being injured.
A fireman at the Donkorkrom Fire Station confirmed to this reporter that his outfit was unable to access the fire scene due to the aggressiveness of the residents.
It took a police reinforcement of over 20 men from Nkawkaw to bring the situation under control.
One of the demonstrators, Nana Ama, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said they had suffered uncountable robbery attacks and rape, "and so if by the grace of God two of these robbers have been arrested, you have to pay a penalty if you connive with them to run away. We won't give them (the police) peace until they bring the escapees."
Reenforcement
There is currently a heavy police and military presence in the Donkorkrom township and other towns in both the Afram Plains North and South to ensure calm.
Two cop robbers rearrested
After having a sleepless night searching for the fugitives, the police, in less than 24 hours, were able to rearrest the two escapees within the Nkawkaw township yesterday.
They were quickly transported to the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters in Koforidua to answer questions.
Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwah was first to be arrested and within an hour the second escapee was also rounded up at his hideout.
The third accomplice, the driver-mechanic, could not escape last Wednesday as the police were able to get hold of him.
Reports say the three have been referred to the national police headquarters for interrogation and prosecution.
Stakeholders meeting in Koforidua
The Eastern Regional Security Council organised a stakeholders forum yesterday to plan on ensuring maximum security in the Afram Plains.
At the meeting, the Regional Minister, Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, called for calm in the Afram Plains.
She announced that more reinforcement, including the military from Accra had been deployed to the area.
Ms Frimpong gave an assurance that the REGSEC would continue to maintain peace in the Afram Plains.
