Kwesi Pratt 'Tears' 10-Point Ejura Murder Recommendations Into Pieces

Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has punched holes in the 10-point recommendations contained in the 3member committee report on the Ejura incident that occurred some months ago.

Government, on Monday, made public the findings and recommendations of the Committee set up to look into the clash between Military personnel and some irate youth of Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

It may be recalled that on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, some angry youth of Ejura Sekyedumase went on demonstration to protest the murder of Ibrahim Mohammed, popularly known as 'Kaaka' but their protest was foiled by some soldiers deployed to the area.

The clash resulted in the deaths of other two people and several injured.

Subsequently, at the instruction of President Akufo-Addo, the Minister of Interior established a three-member Committee to probe circumstances that led to the clash as well as shooting by the security personnel.

Following the probe, the Committee has released a report where they recommend certain actions be taken to forestall future occurrences.

According to their recommendations, ''adequate Compensation for the families of the two deceased persons, namely, Abdul Nasir Yusif and Murtala Suraj Mohammed. Adequate compensation must also be paid to other injured persons, namely; Louis Ayikpa (20 years), Awal Misbau (16 years) and Nasif Nuhu (30 years). These are the names known to the Committee''.

The Committee also recommended ''the immediate transfer of the District Police Commander of Ejura, DSP Philip Kojo Hammond, first for his incompetence in handling the situation and for the fact that, his relationship with the community seems to have been damaged beyond repair''.

But to Kwesi Pratt, the proposal for the transfer of the Ejura District Police Commander, DSP Philip Kojo Hammond is unfair.

In his earnest view, the Police Commander is not to blame for Ejura incident because he was not the one who caused the Police inadequacies which called for Military intervention.

''If you dismiss or transfer a Police officer, does that resolve the problem? It doesn't! Did the Police Commander at Ejura made their physical infrastructure become inadequate? He wasn't responsible for the reduction in the Police numbers. So, how do you blame him? Because the inadequacy of the Police numbers, how could he have been incompetent with inadequate numbers? How could he have been incompetent when the infrastructure for policing was not there? How could he have been incompetent?'' he questioned.

He concluded that ''this Police officer is just being used as a scapegoat and it is not fair. It is not fair at all''.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana