General News of Saturday, 14 June 2008

Source: GNA

Master Kassim laid to rest

Ashaiman, June 14, GNA- The mortal remains of Master Moses Kassim, one of the two persons who died during the recent Ashaiman shooting incident, was on Saturday buried at the Kpone Government Cemetery. The 11-year-old boy of Ashaiman Government School, and Mr Moses Ofori alias Alhaji, 22, driver, died when they were hit by stray bullets during a clash between the Ashaiman police and commercial drivers. Residents, relatives and onlookers cried uncontrollably when the casket containing the body of the boy was brought to the funeral grounds at about 1040 hours.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA), observed that the crowd at the funeral ground become thicker and thicker as people swamped around the casket to catch a glimpse of the body, compelling the family to convey the casket to the cemetery shortly after it was brought from the Police Hospital. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), William Kwanair, Ashaiman District Commander and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Alice Gyamfi, Commander of Tema Community One Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the police led the police delegation to express their condolences to the bereaved family.

ASP Gyamfi told the GNA that the police administration footed the funeral bills in addition to an undisclosed amount of money as compensation to the relatives of the deceased. The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly led by Mr Emmanuel Neequaye, presiding member of the assembly, donated three crates of non-alcoholic drinks, two cartons of beer, a bottle of schnapps and GH¢500. The National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidates of Ashaiman constituency's as well as the Ashaiman branch of the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union also donated cash and drinks to the bereaved family.

The commercial drivers on June 3 demanded the release of four of their colleagues, who had been arrested by the police for parking at an unauthorized place at the roadside instead of a parking lot provided for them.

The drivers were joined by a mob and they besieged the Ashaiman Police station and threw stones, sticks and other missiles and the police fired shoots 0stray bullets killed the two. Ofori would however be buried on June 17.