Criminologist and legal practitioner Prof. Ken
Agyemang Attafuah has called on the Police Service to render an unqualified
apology to the main opposition New Patriotic Party.
The Police acting on a tip-off raided the offices
of the party on suspicion that the party officials are keeping ammunitions with
them.
According to the Police Acting Public Relations
Officer, DSP Cephas Arthur the Police’s actions were informed by their quest to
protect the interest of Ghanaians.
“We had information that some group of macho men
numbering about 20 had arrived at a spot at Asylum Down near the Embassy of
Burkina Faso and were offloading packages likely to contain arms; nobody knew
that it was [the NPP’s] collation centre.”
He continued that “I don’t think any serious
security agency would sit numb and look on until some big havoc had been caused
to the country” before taking the necessary steps.
He also stated that the Police upon reaching the
NPP premises conducted their search but did not find the suspicious ammunitions
and therefore returned without retrieving any equipment or document.
The police claims have been heavily criticized by
NPP stalwarts who say the police dishevelled their computers and other
documents in the office.
The New Patriotic Party explained that the Police
paraded and ransacked their offices, tangling their laptops and other documents
which the party members were gathering evidence from to buttress their law suit
against the declaration of President John Dramani Mahama as victor in the
December polls.
According to the party, the police ordered about 30
young men present at the time they raided the place to lie down or be shot and
carried on with their search without warrant.
Prof. Ken Agyemang Attafuah bemoaned the police’s
excuse for raiding the NPP offices and speaking to Joy FM, implored the police
to protect the rights of the citizenry and not abuse them in the name of
maintaining peace.
He expressed his regret over the actions of the
police saying “nobody invites the police to sit down unconcerned in a time like
this but the police have to pipe down…and take a very humane approach” when
dealing with situations of this sort.
To him, the police should only adopt such
aggressive approach “when you are dealing with gangs.”
Source: Adu Gyamfi Ameyaw
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