Sack MCE, punish troop leader – Ejura Committee recommends

The tripartite committee that probed the Ejura shooting and disturbances has recommended the dismissal of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ejura-Sekyedumase Assembly.

The MCE, Mohammed Salisu Bamba, is believed to have handled the situation poorly resulting in two deaths after riots were sparked by the death of social activist, Ibrahim Mohammed of Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

Soldiers who were deployed to maintain calm opened fire at the scene. The killing of the two and injuring of four protesters has been blamed on the soldiers by many residents of the town.

Even though the MCE has discontinued his ambition for reappointment, the committee wants him removed from office immediately.

According to sources, the committee report presented to the Minister for the Interior on Wednesday, July 27, recommended compensations to be given to victims and bereaved families.

Additionally, the leader of the ground troops is to be sanctioned by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) while the District Police Commander for Ejura-Sekyedumase, DSP Philip Hammond, faces transfer.

The committee completed its work on July 16, 2021, after weeks of public hearings held at Kumasi.

The committee was chaired by a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice George Kingsley Koomson.

At an event to hand over the report to the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, he said committee members “attached serious importance to the work and dedicated ourselves to all issues with meticulous attention and details.”

“Having assured ourselves after listening to 22 witnesses and reviewed volumes of documents including audio and videos, we have come with our findings and proffered some recommendations.

“We hope the government through your good self [Interior Minister] will give a good ear to them and try to accept and implement them,” Justice Koomson said.

Background

Ibrahim Mohammed popularly known as Kaaka was said to have been attacked by some unknown assailants in front of his house around 1:30 a.m on Saturday, June 26, 2021, and was left in critical condition.

He was rushed to the Ejura Government Hospital, from where he was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital around midday on Monday, June 28, 2021, but died on admission.

Suspecting the deceased had been attacked because of his social activism, some young people in Ejura decided to embark on a demonstration after news broke of Kaaka’s death.

They protested on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, when Kaaka was buried according to Islamic rites.

Consequently, the situation degenerated into chaos resulting in the youthful protesters clashing with a joint military and police team.

Two people, Abdul Nasir Yussif and Murtala Mohammed were shot dead.

A three-member committee was constituted by the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, to probe the disturbances in Ejura.

The committee was initially given 10 days to present its report but subsequently extended by a week.

Other members of the committee were Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a security expert, and Ms Juliet Amoah, the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, a not-for-profit organization into good governance and the promotion of new media.

A Principal State Attorney, Ms Marie-Louise Simmons, was the secretary.

Mandate

Interior Minister Dery intimated the formation of a committee at Ejura during a courtesy call on the local traditional ruler, Ejuramanhene Barima Osei Hwedie II, to commiserate with him on the death of three of his subjects.

The minister said the committee was to investigate the incident and make recommendations to forestall a recurrence in Ejura or elsewhere in the country.

He said the committee was made up of trusted people and expressed the belief that they would be able to make appropriate recommendations, after a thorough investigation of last Tuesday’s unfortunate incident.

“This committee, I believe, is a committee of prominent personalities of this country, trusted; I believe that within the 10 days given, ending July 9, 2021, the unfortunate circumstances will be investigated and appropriate recommendations made,” he said.