Police have been accused of deliberately refusing to look into allegations of corruption and underhand dealing against its personnel in Ejura, where a pro-change social media activist, Ibrahim Mohammed, aka Kaaka Macho, was killed in June.
In a press statement issued on Monday, November 15, 2021, the family of the murdered social media activist said a panel put together by the Police Intelligence & Professional Standard Bureau (PIPS) to look into the allegations of bribery and corruption said it does not have the power to embark on such investigation.
The allegations were made by one Aminu Mohammed against the officers during the hearing by a committee that probed the skirmish that ensued after Kaaka died in the Ashanti Region town.
The skirmish claimed two other lives as a joint police-military force clashed with residents of Ejura over Kaaka’s death.
Following the allegation, Kaaka’s mother filed the complaint against the officers but the Spokesperson for the woman, Alhaji Inusah Bawa, and spokesperson for the family, Nafiu Mohammed, alleged in the statement that PIPS stated that even though the facts of the complaint concerned police misconduct, they have no authority to investigate it.
“The facts underlying the complaint to PIPS were that statements made during the hearings of the Committee point to the fact that the Ejura Police solicited bribes to arrest, detain and release a suspect.
“The statements raised several allegations of police misconduct and criminal conduct contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, (Act 29), including false imprisonment of a citizen of Ghana, with the intention to apparently teach the person a lesson; and corruption of a police officer. “The mother of Kaaka considered that the allegations raised critical questions about the integrity of the Ghana Police Service. As a result she brought the complaint to demand that the Police Service should open appropriate investigations to determine the veracity of the allegations and the appropriate criminal and administrative sanctions that may lie,” the press release explained.
Kaaka was attacked by unknown assailants allegedly over his social media activism that some supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party in the area believed was making the government unpopular.
He died shortly after his attack on June 28, 2021.
A youth uprising in the community in protest of his death also claimed two lives as security personnel shot live bullets into a crowd.
A ministerial committee look into the matter and proffered recommendations.
Read the full statement released by Kaaka’s family below.
Monday, November 15, 2021
Press Update
Police Refuse to Investigate Allegations of Police Corruption
This afternoon a panel put together by the Police Intelligence & Professional Standard Bureau (PIPS), decided that it does not have the powered to investigate allegations of bribery and corruption that were made against the Ejura Police by one Aminu Mohammed, during the hearings of the Committee tasked to investigate the Ejura killings. The complaint was brought by the mother of Kaaka.
The facts underlying the complaint to PIPS were that statements made during the hearings of the Committee point to the fact that the Ejura Police solicited bribes to arrest, detain and release a suspect. The statements raised several allegations of police misconduct and criminal conduct contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, (Act 29), including false imprisonment of a citizen of Ghana, with the intention to apparently teach the person a lesson; and corruption of a police officer. The mother of Kaaka considered that the allegations raised critical questions about the integrity of the Ghana Police Service. As a result she brought the complaint to demand that the Police Service should open appropriate investigations to determine the veracity of the allegations and the appropriate criminal and administrative sanctions that may lie.
However, according to the Panel, even though the facts complained of concerned Police misconduct, they have no authority to investigate it. In their view the complainant should either direct her petition to the defunct Ejura Committee or go to the Court if she wants.
The mother of Kaaka had first filed the same complaint at the Ejura Police Station. The Ejura police for its part informed the complainant that they had no interest in pursuing the matter.
The family of Macho Kaaka is shocked by the stance of the Ghana Police Service; and consider that its actions do not reflect that of an institution committed to truth, justice and accountability.
To whom do poor citizens turn to when those with power wield it to frustrate the rule of law and justice?
Thank You
Signed
Alhaji Inusah Bawa [Spokesperson for the Complainant] +233244637285
Nafiu Mohammed [Spokesperson for the Kaaka Family] +233246448053
