POLICE Brutally Assault Residents of Changli In Northern Ghana

Whatsup News has picked up disturbing reports of serious police brutality on residents of Changli Community in the Northern Region over an alleged GHC 1,000 fraud case.

Pictures of deep cuts, battered heads and bloodied bodies have been acquired by Whatsup News plus a petition issued to the Inspector General of Police through the Northern Regional Police Command.

Apparently, an unknown lady from the community had reportedly defrauding another person to the tune of GHC 1,000 resulting in the brutalities on community members as the police were allegedly called in to retrieve the money.

“…this raid came on the heels of a case the police followed up on to conduct an arrest of a young lady who is alleged to have defrauded another person of a thousand Ghana Cedis (Gh₡1000.00). We noticed the attempt to arrest the lady was resisted which eventually led to the assault of the police,” the petitioners wrote in their April 22, complaint copied to the Peace Council, Chiefs in the Region and the Media.

“Whiles we condemn the excesses of the miscreants who allegedly assaulted the policewoman, we expected that the police would have been more measured professionally to conduct investigation into identifying the miscreants who obstructed them on their duty, the police however resorted to a needless raid of a section of the community even as the lady whose arrest was allegedly resisted voluntarily reported to them”

The police re said to have stormed the community at dawn on April 18, 2020, breaking into homes of the sleeping community and brutalising residents. Also properties worth several thousands of cedis were reportedly destroyed in the process.

“About 86 houses were ransacked and a total of 209 people were assaulted with varying degrees of injuries. Of the 209 assaulted, 136 of the community members were arrested and sent to the regional police headquarters. They went berserk and destroyed 72 doors of people’s rooms. Other properties destroyed were: 10 television sets; 16 satellite dishes; 3 vehicles; 5 motor tricycles; 11 air-conditioners; 16 motorbikes; 4 laptops; and 2 Polytanks. Shamefully, we recorded 26 missing cell phones and a total cash amount of nine thousand and nine hundred and forty Ghana cedis (GHC 9940.00) belonging to 11 complainants,” the petition read.

“…the Changni Community is grief-stricken as we have found the police raid very appalling and scandalous especially as they are supposed to exude the conduct of modern police officers who will not resort to undemocratic measures in ensuring law and order. Are they ignorant of the standards of consulting with communities; responding to communities; mobilizing communities; and solving community problems?”

The angry community have promised to resist any further harassment. “We will, however, use all legitimate means possible to resist any further undue oppression from the police. What is even more baffling is that Changni had been a host to several police officers for the past (5) decades and have related with a high sense of neighbourliness and mutual respect. Several houses have hosted these police officers as tenants in Changni. The April 18, 2020 raid has bruised the long-standing trust and respect we had for police and that requires urgent attention to restore the problem at hand. “