Policeman accidentally shoots colleague

In what the police described as “friendly fire”, a policeman in Kumasi was on Sunday night accidentally hit by a bullet from a colleague’s AK 47 assault rifle while they were attempting to arrest a suspect.
Lance Corporal Kwabena Yaw of the Asokwa Divisional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) was hit on the hand when his colleague, Constable Emmanuel Boateng, also of the Asokwa Police, attempted to fire at the leg of the suspect.

The injured lance corporal is on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and is expected to be operated on today. He is, however, said to be in stable condition.

Briefing the Daily Graphic yesterday, the Asokwa District Police Commander, Supt Rev Dr S.N. Adane Ameyaw, said about 7.30 p.m. on Sunday, the police had information on an accident that had occurred at the Santasi Roundabout.

Operation

Since there was no available vehicle at the Asokwa Police Station at the time, the police night patrol team was called to pick men from the Asokwa MTTD to the accident scene.

Rev Ameyaw said while they were driving to the accident scene, the police met a mob chasing a man.

The mob claimed the man had attempted to snatch a car from its driver, and based on that information four policemen went out of their vehicle to give the suspect a chase.

After a brief chase, Lance Corporal Yaw held the suspect, but a struggle ensued between the two as the suspect attempted to break free.

In the course of the struggle, Constable Boateng decided to disable the suspect by firing at his leg, but the shot missed the target and rather hit the hand of his colleague.

Following the development, the suspect managed to escape, while the injured policeman was conveyed to KATH for treatment.

Rev Ameyaw appealed to the public to assist the police to arrest the suspect.

Daily Graphic/Ghana