Angry residents of Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains North district of the Eastern Region have torched the police station in the town.
Their action was in protest to the firing of tear gas and warning bullets at them by police officers as they demonstrated in town on Thursday, 18 August, over the escape of two police officers and a third person arrested earlier in connection with a failed heist on a GCB Bank bullion van at Maame Krobo.
Meanwhile, one of two fugitive cops has been re-arrested. Lance Corporal Kusi Abrokwah was re-arrested at Nkawkaw on Thursday, 18 August. The suspects escaped while they were being transferred to Koforidua from Nkawkaw as the van transporting them stopped to refuel. Corporal Kusi Abrokwah was re-arrested with the help of residents of Nkawkaw.
The police earlier fired tear gas and warning shots at the demonstrators who were marching to the station.
There was chaos in the area as the residents fled from the police for their dear lives. The demonstrators hit the streets on Thursday, 18 August, to protest against the police in connection with the escape of the two police officers.
Acting Chief of Donkorkrom Nana Mireku Anim, who confirmed the firing of warning shots and tear gas, told Prince Minkah on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Thursday that the shots were fired at the demonstrators as they marched to the police station in the area.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Afram Plains South, Emmanuel Aboagye Didieye, has said he and residents in the area do not trust the police to protect them.
Mr Didieye told Prince Minkah that the police appeared to be colluding with criminals to torment residents.
Speaking to Chief Jerry Forson on Accra100.5FM’s breakfast show Ghana Yenson on the same day, Mr Didieye said he missed the heist by the whiskers, adding that he and his constituents don’t feel safe with the current crop of police officers.
The residents are demanding that the Ghana Police Service send a whole new bunch of police officers to the area.
The botched heist took place on Monday, 15 August. The driver of the van was killed in the incident. A police officer accompanying the van also sustained gunshot wounds.
According to the police in the area, the robbery was foiled following an exchange of gun fire between the police and the robbers. The killed van driver has been identified as David Sarpong. The wounded officer is Mr Frederick Adei.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
