The Chiefs and people of Gbi-Wegbe in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region have appealed to the Inspector General of Police to constitute a non-prejudiced committee to investigate the alleged killing of a youth by the police.
The aggrieved residents want the committee not to compromise the truth, make public its findings and ensure those found culpable are punished.
Addressing the press, the Divisional Chief of Gbi-Wegbe, Togbe Keh XII, said a police team stormed the Gbi-Wegbe community at about 11 pm on 9th December 2022 for an operation.
He said the chiefs and elders of the community knew nothing about the said operation.
He added that 29-year-old Bismark Charles Opare was shot and killed during the operation when the police fired their guns into a crowd of youth. Bismark had returned from his taxi business.
He said that their preliminary investigation revealed that the police team were not from the Volta North Regional Command, but from the Ho Command, hence operated out of their jurisdiction.
He further indicated that nobody assigned the said officers to carry out such an operation in Gbi-Wegbe which resulted in the death of one of their own due to the unprofessional conduct of the officers.
“Moreover, Hohoe by the Police administrative structure has been given a regional status with a substantive Regional Police Commander. Administratively, therefore, any operation within its jurisdiction ought to be authorized by the Hohoe Commander or the known by the Regional Commander, Hohoe. This was never the case”, he stressed.
“The question on our lips as concerned citizens who are to speak but not to act as spectators are: Who authorized the operation to be carried out at that hour? Who was the leader of the operation team? Who authorised the release of the vehicles and weapons used?
Who are the officers involved? Who is their immediate superior in Ho? To whom have they reported the outcome of the operation to and where the booties are? Why did the officers concerned have to shoot live bullets into a group of armless civilians resulting in loss of human life?”, he quizzed.
Togbe Keh XII, questioned if police officers undertake such operations and extort money to enrich themselves at the expense of perceived suspects.
He, therefore, implored the Police hierarchy to launch an investigation into the unfortunate incident and bring the perpetrators to book, through a non-prejudiced committee and ensure the family of the deceased is duly compensated.
He gave the Police Command up till 21st December 2022 to make public its findings, “especially to the Chiefs, elders, and families of the victim”.
The Chiefs and residents stressed that they would condone wrongdoing but would seek fairness and justice for peace to prevail in their community.
