The Member of Parliament for Nkoranza South, Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, and the people in the Constituency are demanding justice and accountability from the Ghana Police Service in respect of a suspect who died in their custody.
In a press release, signed by the MP, he revealed that the Police arrested the suspect, Albert Donkor on April 25, 2022, at 1:00am from his mother’s residence at Kasadjan.
He stated that Mr. Donkor was arrested on a suspicion of robbery that occurred on the Nkoranza- Kintampo road.
“Albert Donkor was denied access to a lawyer of his choice, his family members were denied access to him, he was never tried by any competent court and today, all we are hearing is- Albert is no more, how reckless can the Police Service be,” Mr. Agyekum said.
He added that “this is indeed an epidemic of injustice, the people of Nkoranza cannot stay silent when innocent Albert Donkor has been targeted and killed.”
The MP questioned the Police’s justification for arresting the deceased at his residence without adequate evidence and subjecting him to torture.
“The speculative and often uninformed initial reporting that characterizes eyewitnesses appears to be rapidly becoming the standard of the Ghana Police Service,” he wrote.
Mr. Agyekum stated that the Police’s claim that the suspect died when he led the Police to arrest the other suspects at a ghetto is untenable and cannot be accepted by the people of Nkoranza South.
“I call on the President, Ministers of State, colleague MPs, human rights organisations and the clergy to add their voice to this clarion call to demand justice for Albert Donkor who was shot by the Police leading to his untimely death as a result of the unprofessional conduct of some men in uniform.”
Read the full statement below:
THE PEOPLE OF NKORANZA DEMAND JUSTICE FOR ALBERT DONKOR
On 25th April, 2022, at exactly 1:00am, Albert Donkor was picked up from his mother’s residence at Kasadjan in the Nkoranza South Municipality by the Ghana Police Service on a suspicion of robbery that had occurred on the Nkoranza- Kintampo road.
Albert Donkor was denied access to a lawyer of his choice, his family members were denied access to him, he was never tried by any competent court and today, all we are hearing is- Albert is no more, how reckless can the Police Service be.
This is indeed an epidemic of injustice, the people of Nkoranza cannot stay silent when innocent Albert Donkor has been targeted and killed.
Given the near instantaneous ability to arrest suspected criminals, the responsibility to accurately and lawfully arrest, takes on unprecedented importance. The speculative and often uninformed initial reporting that characterizes eyewitnesses appears to be rapidly becoming the standard of the Ghana Police Service.
What is the justification for arresting a civilian at his residence and subjecting him to torture causing his death and not that the death occurred as a result of a gun battle at the crime scene.
The rambling explanation given by the Police that the victim was shot by the robberies when the victim led the Police to arrest the other suspects at a ghetto is untenable and cannot be accepted by the people of Nkoranza South as same excuse was given in the bullion van robbery case at Ashaiman.
This is indeed a glaring and unfortunate display of incompetent strategic leadership within the Police Service. In fact, with this culture of policing, there is no question that Ghana is living a nightmare with no end in sight.
The Police Service should let the people of Nkoranza know the competent court that sanctioned the killing of Albert Donkor.
I call on the President, Ministers of State, colleague MPs, human rights organisations and the clergy to add their voice to this clarion call to demand justice for Albert Donkor who was shot by the Police, leading to his untimely death as a result of the unprofessional conduct of some men in uniform.
Finally, I wish to also call on Ghanaians to trend the hashtag #Justice4AlbertDonkor on the various social media platforms to make sure that Justice is not only done, but must be seen to be done.
HON. EMMANUEL KWADWO AGYEKUM
(MP FOR NKORANZA SOUTH CONSTITUENCY)