General News of Thursday, 10 May 2001

Source: NCS

Government should investigate conducts of policemen-GBA

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) condemned the action of police personnel during Wednesday's match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium.

It therefore called on the President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor to set up a presidential commission to investigate the causes of the police actions and come out with recommendations to prevent such future occurrences.

In a statement jointly signed by Mr J. Ebow Quarshie, President and Mr J.Ayiku Otoo National in Accra, the GBA wondered why a simple issue of spectator reaction at the stadium could have attracted the firing of several tear gases into the crowd.

'' The police were sent to the stadium to prevent crowd violence and not to create an unnecessary panicky situation as they did by firing tear gas into a crowd without adequate escape route.'' The GBA has, therefore, called for the interdiction of the policemen and their superiors who were on duty at the sports stadium whiles investigations proceed.

The association extended its condolences to the bereaved families and assured the public of its readiness to provide any legal assistance they will require free of charge.