Four additional police officers have been interdicted following the clash between the police and the Islamic Senior High School on Monday, 13 June 2022.
The officers, who were on duty were reportedly reviewing CCTV footage of the chaos while giving Islamophobic commentary in the background.
“Have you seen their attitude [referring to students of the Islamic SHS]? Do you think if it was an Akan school they will behave that way?” one of the officers said in the video.
Another said: “They are dirty. They are dirty! Wherever these Muslims are, there is a problem…”
The identities of the officers captured on tape is yet to be made public.
But their disparaging remarks about Muslims have sparked anger in the Islamic community.
A delegation from the Ghana Police Service visiting the Zongo chief of Kumasi, Alhaji Umar Sulta Farouk confirmed that the four officers have been interdicted pending further investigations.
Senior Police Officer, DCOP Mohammed Suraji, who doubles as the Ghana police operations commander led the delegation on behalf of the IGP.
“Such [a comment] doesn’t represent the Ghana police. So, we are here to apologise. As I speak the officers, including a chief inspector have been interdicted.
“They are under service inquiry for exhibiting such unprofessional conduct and we support this decision. We should treat this with the contempt it deserves,” DCOP Suraji said.
He gave an assurance to the Muslim leaders that the police respect everyone irrespective of political, religious, or tribal background.
Earlier two police officers were interdicted over the clash that saw over 20 students hospitalised — ACP George Ankomah, the Regional Operations Officer and ACP Alex Cudjoe Acquah.
The DCOP Kwasi Akomeah-Apraku who was removed as the deputy Ashanti regional commander.
Background
About 25 Islamic Senior High School students in Kumasi were rushed to the hospital following an alleged clash with the police on Monday, 13 June 2022.
The agitated students, who appeared to have had enough casualties on the road in front of the school, took to the streets on Monday morning to protest.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the death of a teacher who was knocked down by a speeding vehicle over the weekend.
The students blocked the Abrepo Junction – Barekese road to register their displeasure.
According to them, frequent calls and promises for speed humps in light of recent accidents on the stretch have fallen on deaf ears.
Two hours into the demonstration saw heavy vehicular and human traffic.
The police were then called to the scene to clear the roadblock and disperse the agitated students.
However, the police fired tear gas and shot into the protesting crowd, causing the injuries.
The affected students who are said to be suffering from respiratory distress were taken to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Manhyia Hospital, and other neighbouring hospitals.
IGP Reaction
The Deputy Regional Commander in the Ashanti Region, DCOP Kwasi Akomeah-Apraku, has been removed from post following the incident.
Two other officers, ACP George Ankomah, the Regional Operations Officer, and ACP Alex Cudjoe Acquah, the Suame Divisional Police Commander, have also been interdicted to make way for a thorough investigation.
The Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) has since commenced a full-scale investigation into the conduct of the officers who were responsible for the police response.
Police clinical psychologists have also been deployed to the school to offer psychological support to the student body.