General News of Friday, 5 September 2003

Source: Joy Online

Police To Compensate Shooting Victim

The Police Administration has agreed to bear the funeral cost for the late 42 year-old Kofi Boafo, popularly known as Teacher Koo, killed by a police officer in June this year. The incident took place at Apeguso in the Eastern Region. The decision follows a recommendation by the committee set up by the Adonteng Council to investigate the incident.

The Police administration will also pay compensation to the family. Village sources told JOY FM that Teacher Koo was killed when he tried to persuade a team of police personnel from removing speed ramps built on a major road by the townspeople.

He reportedly told the police personnel that officials of the Highways Authority were expected later in the day to replace the speed ramps and so there was no need to carry on with the exercise.

However, according to a spokesman of the Chief of Apeguso, Nana Mintah Danquah, a policeman pointed his rifle at Teacher Koo and shot him in the throat at close range. He alleged the police officers then prevented bystanders from attending to Teacher Koo as he lay on the ground bleeding from his wounds. He later died. Teacher Koo who was buried last weekend at Apeguso left behind six children.

The Director of the Public Relations Unit of the Police Service David Eklu told JOY FM’s Sena Atoklo that after taking care of the family, punitive measures will be taken against the police officers involved in the riot at Apeguso.