The Centre for Justice and Rule of Law (CJRL) has called for a thorough investigation into the recent attack on the Kukurantumi Police Station.
The incident, which saw parts of the station set ablaze, occurred after the death of a suspect in police custody.
In a statement signed by its Media Relations Officer, Divine Nkrumah, the CJRL condemned the violence and urged calm in the community.
The organization called for the investigation to cover both the conduct of the police and the actions of the youth who allegedly attacked the station.
The statement also asserted that the youth’s actions reflect a growing frustration with the perceived abuse of power by some police personnel.
Mr. Nkrumah advised the Police Service to conduct a comprehensive review of its operations and personnel.
He stressed the need for officers to uphold professional standards and respect the rights of citizens.
“We believe this is the time for the police administration to do a sober deep reflection on how their officers are trained, deployed and instructed or supervised to do their work without violating the rights of suspects.”
Youth in the community of Kukurantumi reportedly set the local police station ablaze on Sunday following the death of a young man who was in police custody.
According to police sources, the group also pelted officers who were deployed to the area as reinforcements, and destroyed two police vehicles.
Two officers sustained injuries and were treated and discharged from the hospital.
In a statement, the Ghana Police Service announced that it has closed the station and withdrawn its officers from the community.
Commenting on the incident, CJRL asked the IGP to investigate the Police and the youth who were engaged in the attack.
“We are calling on the inspector general of police to not only investigate the youth who attacked but also investigate the police who conducted the arrest and ensure that everyone who deserves punishment is duly punished according to law.”
Below is the full statement
PRESS STATEMENT
22.9.25
ATTACKS ON KUKURANTUMI POLICE STATION: INVESTIGATE BOTH THE YOUTH AND THE POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED
The Centre for Justice and Rule of Law (CJRL) has noticed with deep concern the developments in Akyem Kukurantumi relating to the attacks on Police Station and police officers of the town following the death of a suspect one Bright Kena.
We condemn the attacks by the youth in no uncertain terms and ask for cool heads to prevail whilst the police commence investigations into the matter.
Our preliminary checks show that the attacks on the police station were reprisal in response to an alleged beating of Bright Kena upon his arrest by the police and this is supposed to have led to his hospitalization and subsequent death. The said Bright Kena was alleged to have committed the offence of unlawful entry and stealing of GHC 5 (Five Ghana Cedis).
We are by this statement also calling into question, the rate at which police personnel violate the rights of suspects during arrests, questioning and detention.
This attack a sign that the youth have run out of patience with the rate at which they are abused by police personnel. We believe this is the time for the police administration to do a sober deep reflection on how their officers are trained, deployed and instructed or supervised to do their work without violating the rights of suspects.
The 1992 constitution is very clear that every suspect is innocent until proven guilty. Various Sections of Criminal Procedure Act of 1960, (ACT 30) also clearly outlines the procedures for arrest and fails to mention beating as one of the means of arresting.
Any time that a police officer violates these provisions and resort to the beating of persons who have been arrested, that officers violate the rights of the persons and opens himself as well as the entire police administration to a lawsuit which can result in Judgment debt to the country as a whole.
We are calling on the inspector general of police to not only investigate the youth who attacked but also investigate the police who conducted the arrest and ensure that everyone who deserves punishment is duly punished according to law.
Signed
Divine Nkrumah
Director of Media Relations
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
