Govt pays compensation to families of killed Asawase youth

Government has fulfilled the pledge to pay compensation to families of the seven youth from Asawase Zongo in Kumasi, who were killed in a shooting incident at Manso Nkwanta.

The Minister of inner-Cities and Zongo Development, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid on Thursday handed over a cheque for Ghc250,000 to each family totalling Ghc1.750million.

The presentation was done in fulfilment of a promise made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in January 2019.

Robbery

The Ashanti regional police command alleged that the seven were armed robbers and were killed in a shoot out at Manso Nkwanta in the Amansie West district of the region.

Reprisal

Indeed, the killings by the police was perceived to be a reaction to an attack on a passenger bus by suspected armed robbers days earlier in the same area, killing a police man and injuring another.

Attack
A first attempt by the vice president, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and an entourage of government officials to soothe the pains of the deceased families went bad as irate youth of Asawase vented their spleen on them pelting them with stones and other missiles.
Findings
Following the botched meeting, a five-man committee was put in place by government mandated to investigate the killings and make recommendations.
The committee said there were no facts before them to establish that the deceased persons were armed robbers who engaged in exchange of fire with the Police.
As a result, the committee recommended that the 21 police personnel involved in the incident who were found to be the principal suspects be interdicted by the Police administration and be subjected to formal police criminal investigation into the matter.

Address
At Monday's presentation ceremony in Kumasi, the Minister for Zongo and Inner City, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, told Zongo youths that each time any politician requested their services to cause mayhem, they (youth) should ask their children to lead in that direction.
He said never again should any Muslim youth be used for individual selfish political gains.
Dr Mustapha and leaders of the Zongo communities cautioned the youth against the use of illicit drugs especially tramadol.
They contended that the use of hard drugs including tramadol were the main ingredients that influence the youth in causing confusion in the country and it was time to stop it.

Quick read
Government on Monday fulfilled a GHC 1.750 million compensation promise it made to families of seven Asawase Zongo youth who where killed in the infamous Manso Nkwanta shooting on July 17, 2018.