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Adib Saani: Ejura committee report not enough

The security expert Adib Saani says some officials who played critical roles in Ejura after the melee “have been left out” of the inquiry’s report

Adib Saani, a security expert, says the report of the ministerial committee which investigated the disturbances in Ejura in the Ashanti Region “is not enough” to bring justice to the people.

Speaking on Asaase Radio’s The Big Bulletin after the report was released on Monday (27 September), Saani said some officials who played key roles in the wake of the melee “have been left out”.

The three-member committee recommended the transfer of the police chief in the area, Deputy Superintendent of Police Philip Kojo Hammond.

The civil unrest in Ejura erupted when a social activist, Ibrahim Mohammed “Kaaka”, 45, was attacked by unknown people on 27 June.

He died on Monday (28 June) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where he was receiving treatment.

Security personnel then fired into an angry crowd of young protesters in the town after the funeral of “Kaaka” on 29 June, killing Abdul Nasiw and Muntala Mohammed.

Full-scale investigation

“It’s not enough … some interesting people have been left out and I’m quite surprised by that. I would have expected the committee to recommend a full-scale investigation into the killings, particularly those perpetrated by the military, because there was a lot of confusion as to where the bullet was coming from … unfortunately the committee is silent about it,” Saani said.

He added: “The whole document is biased in favour of the military. Lives were lost and people are asking for justice, and I don’t see anything here that will bring justice to the people. I don’t see anything about the regional minister who gave the order in the first place.

“I would have expected that the same punishment that we’re recommending to the DCE and the commander should have been [recommended] for the regional minister.”

In their report released on Monday (27 September), the three-member committee that investigated the local disturbances said: “The committee recommends the immediate transfer of the district police commander of Ejura, DSP Philip Kojo Hammond, first for his incompetence in handling the situation and for the fact that his relationship with the community seems to have been damaged beyond repair.”

It added: “We further recommend the structural expansion of the Ejura Police Station and an increase in personnel.”

Compensation

The committee also recommended “adequate compensation for the families of the two deceased persons, namely Abdul Nasir Yusif and Murtala Suraj Mohammed. Adequate compensation must also be paid to other injured persons, namely Louis Ayikpa (20 years), Awal Misbau (16 years) and Nasif Nuhu (30 years).”

These are the committee’s recommendations:

1. The Committee recommends adequate compensation for the families of the
two deceased persons, namely, Abdul Nasir Yusif and Murtala Suraj
Mohammed. Adequate compensation must also be paid to other injured
persons, namely Louis Ayikpa (20 years), Awal Misbau (16 years) and Nasif
Nuhu (30 years). These are the names known to the Committee.

2. The Committee recommends the immediate transfer of the district police
Commander of Ejura, DSP Philip Kojo Hammond, first for his
incompetence in handing the situation and for the fact that, his relationship
with the community seems to have been damaged beyond repair.

3. We further recommend the structural expansion of the Ejura Police Station
and an increase in personnel.

4. We recommend the removal of the Ejura-Sekyedumase municipal chief
executive, Honourable Mohammed Salisu Bamba, since his continuous
presence as MCE would exacerbate the already tense security situation in
Ejura.

5. It is further recommended that the military establishment review the actions
of the section on the ground, led by Lieutenant Martin Opoku Adusei, for
the inappropriate use of force, and apply appropriate sanctions.

6. We further recommend the training of REGSEC, MUSEC and DISEC
officials in the Ashanti Region in conflict and crisis management at the
Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College at least once every year.

7. We recommend the development of a joint Standard Operative Procedure
(SOP) for military/police operations, including roles for indispensable
allied agencies like the National Investigations Bureau, NADMO, Ghana
National Fire Service, National Ambulance Service, etc.

8. We further recommend that the NCCE [National Committee for
Civic Education] should intensify its public education in relation to the rights,
obligations and civic responsibilities of the people of Ejura.

9. It is further recommended that, all crowd/riot/crisis control units be made to
wear bodycams and all vehicles and mobile gadgets employed must also
have cameras.

10. We recommend the establishment of a sports and other recreational
facilities in Ejura under the Zongo Development Fund, so as to re-channel
the energies of the youth.

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