Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander DCOP Kwasi Akomeah Apraku has been interdicted for poor handling of the Islamic SHS incident.
Two other officers, ACP George Ankomah, the Regional Operations Officer and ACP Alex Cudjoe Acquah, the Suame Divisional Police Commander have also been interdicted to make way for a thorough investigation into the incident.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare led a team from the Police Headquarters to Kumasi immediately following disturbances at the school.
A statement by the police said the team met the school authorities and visited the students who had been sent to the Suntreso Government Hospital, Kwadaso Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
Some injured officers who were receiving medical care at the Police Clinic, Kumasi were also visited.
According to the police, its investigations have so far established that though nobody was hit by a bullet the handling of the incident was poor and fell short of police standard operating procedure on crowd control.
“The Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) has commenced a full-scale investigation into the conduct of the officers who were responsible for the Police response,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, clinical psychologists have been deployed to visit the school to offer psychosocial support to the students.
Read the text of the full statement below:
UPDATE ON DISTURBANCES AT ISLAMIC SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL: DEPUTY REGIONAL COMMANDER REMOVED, TWO OTHER SENIOR OFFICERS INTERDICTED
1. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare led a team from the Police Headquarters to Kumasi immediately following the disturbances at the Islamic Senior High School.
2. The team met with the school authorities and visited the students who had been sent to Suntreso Government Hospital, Kwadaso Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention. Some injured police officers who were receiving medical care at the Police Clinic, Kumasi were also visited.
3. Most of the students and the police officers who sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital have been treated and discharged.
4. Police investigations have so far established that today, Monday, June 13, 2022, some students of the Islamic Senior High School, Abrepo, Kumasi, took to the streets, and blocked sections of the road to demonstrate against frequent motor traffic accidents in front of their school.
5. The Police responded to disperse the students and open the road to normal traffic flow. The students pelted the Police with stones and the Police used pepper spray and fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse them.
6. It was further established that even though nobody was hit by a bullet, the Police handling of the incident was poor and fell short of our standard operating procedure on crowd control.
7. As a result, the Deputy Regional Police Commander, DCOP/Mr Kwasi Akomeah Apraku, who was acting as the Regional Commander has been removed from his position and has been interdicted. Two other officers, ACP/Mr George Ankomah, the Regional Operations Officer and ACP/Mr Alex Cudjoe Acquah, the Suame Divisional Police Commander have also been interdicted to make way for a thorough investigation into the incident.
8. The Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) has commenced a full-scale investigation into the conduct of the officers who were responsible for the Police response.
9. Police clinical psychologists have been deployed to visit the school to offer psychosocial support to the student body.
10. The situation at the school is under control and calm has since been restored.
GRACE ANSAH-AKROFI CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS