Education Minister, Mathew Opoku-Prempeh has called for the transfer of the Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti regional command, ASP Yussif Tanko and head of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit Sup. Chris Klomega from the region.
The minister is accusing the two police officers of peddling untruths and engaging in unprofessional conduct and cited the alleged case of police brutalities that occurred at the Kumasi Technical Institute (KTI), Tuesday evening as one such example.
Speaking on Adom FM’s ‘Dwaso Nsem’, Dr Opoku-Prempeh said he will personally speak to the Inspector General of Police, David Asante Apeatu and have the officers transferred from the region.
These brutalities are becoming a normal practice for the police in the region, he suggested and accused Sup. Klomega of either presiding over such brutalities or perpetrating same.
He went to shoot at people indiscriminately in Kenyase, the minister said, adding it is the same thing he has done in KTI.
According to him, Supt Klomega went to taser and shoot rubber bullets at students who were sleeping, adding, he does not deserve to lead the SWAT team.
He said he will report the matter to the IGP, and have them penalized.
At least 14 students of KTI were hospitalized after a clash with police officers after an inter-schools competition at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
The students were said to have blocked roads as they jubilated their third place win in the competition, causing massive traffic.
Police fired gunshots and tear gas to disperse the angry students who were said to have pelted stones at the police.
The police later chased the students to their school compound, turned off the main electricity switch and stormed the boys and girls dormitory beating, applying tasers and shooting rubber bullets at the students.
When asked why this form of brutality was used ASP Yusif Tanko, who speaks for the command justified the actions of the police, saying it was done to restore law and order.
But Dr Opoku-Prempeh said the police had no right to behave the way they did.
The minister also revealed that during interrogations after the incident the two police officers did not give an accurate account of what transpired at the school.
According to him, Sup. Klomega told him and some other police chiefs that the students attacked them with knives so they went to their dormitories to seize the knives.
He added that Sup. Klomega denied the firing of live bullets but was unable to explain how live bullet shells were found in the school.
He said the account given by Klomenga which was corroborated by PRO Yusiff Tanko was markedly different from what the Asokwa police recounted.
Yussif Tanko has never told the truth, that is same for Klomega. If even the thing is white, they will say it is black, he said in the twi language.
How is it that the school, which was adjudged best behaved school during the competition carry out the acts the police claim they have, Dr Opoku-Prempeh queried.
Meanwhile, doctors treating the injured students say some of them are in critical condition. They say the amount of tear gas has caused severe inhalation injuries.
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