Police are being lashed out in last Sunday’s chaos that ensued following a clash between members of the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP) and that of the governing National Democratic Congress(NDC) at the residence of the NPP Flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Political activists in the wake of the disturbances yesterday say the Police are struggling to manage a fractured security system in the country in a show of force meant to keep the peace ahead of crucial elections set for December 7.
But the Police have described it the most profound security tactic in managing the violence and the thick crowd that amassed at the home of the opposition leader, Akufo-Addo Sunday morning.
“One of the Security guards of the opposition leader pointed a gun at the Commander of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Ghana Police Service, fired a warning shot and pointed the gun back at the officer. The Police team attempted to unleash a defensive attack but the Commander ordered them to restrain the attacks and were very professional yesterday,” the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur disclosed in an interview on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM Monday.
He said there would have been terrible reports from the incident if the police didn’t show maximum restraint in the disturbances that occurred yesterday.
“Imagine a civilian pointing a gun at the Police; you have called for everything possible, but the Police were very professional. If it were to be the army whose orientation about weapon is a different thing altogether you can imagine what would have happened. I’m sure we would have been telling a different story by now. But amidst this fierce challenge we faced yesterday, there were no casualties recorded. It’s rather disappointing to hear the public blamed the Police.”
Confusion broke out between some supporters of the NDC and NPP in front of the residence of NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo during a health walk organized by the NDC Sunday.
The NDC supporters who were on a Regional health walk which President Mahama was expected to be part of, upon reaching the residence of Nana Akufo, unprovoked, started throwing stones and bottles into the house.
The action by the NDC group was met with fierce resistance as security guards of Nana Akufo Addo sensing danger responded with warning shots, dispersing the NDC supporters in the process.
Some NPP supporters who heard of the incident also rushed to Nana Akufo Addo’s residence to offer backup for the security detail who reports said were being overpowered by the milling crowd.
But the Nima police intervened to restore law and order.
