General News of Thursday, 23 November 2017
Source: Myjoyonline.com
2017-11-23
Ambrose Dery is Interior Minister
Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, has said two suspected criminals who were killed by police in Asawase in the Ashanti Region had been terrorising residents of the Kumasi, the regional capital.
According to the Minister, while police searched their hideouts to retrieve weapons after a swoop, they attempted to evade police custody which may have triggered a chain of events that led to the shooting and their death.
The police have come under strong criticism by the youth of the area who say the police shot and killed Awudu Osman and Lukeman Mohammed although they did no wrong.
The two had been accused of armed robbery by the police.
The family of the two suspected criminals have been impressing on the government to secure justice for their relatives by punishing the officers who shot and killed them, however, police deny any wrongdoing.
The killing of the two residents of Asawase sparked riots in the area prompting Parliament to summon the Interior Minister to the House.
In Parliament on Wednesday Mr Dery faced tough questions from legislators about the incident that many are describing as the result of unprofessional conduct by the police officers.
Mr Dery said police information indicated that victims of recent robberies identified the two during a parade in Kumasi.
He said records available to the Police show that Lukeman Mohammed, for instance, has been on the Regional Police wanted list since June 16, 2016 for his involvement in a robbery that occurred at Bakery at Gyedi-Kenyasi.
In that robbery incident, police allege that Lukeman shot a worker, Aba Kyere 35, in the left arm and took away a pump action gun and GH?13,500 in cash.
He said two of his accomplices; Farouk and Saliu, were currently in prison custody. Two other accomplices in the robbery incident are at large.
Mr Dery further stated that investigations into the matter are ongoing to ascertain the full facts.
