A dispute involving a policeman and a soldier has resulted in the death of the policeman, with the soldier who is in critical condition receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.
A statement issued jointly by the police and military high command on Monday said the off-duty policeman attempted to intervene in a dispute between a tro-tro driver and a member of a Joint Elections Security Task Force (JESTF) at Ashaiman on December 31, 2010 leading to a confrontation that led to the incident.
The statement, signed by Superintendent of Police Kwesi Ofori, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service and Lieutenant Commander A La-Anyane for the Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, identified the policeman as Corporal Sampson Kwakye Sorsey, a bodyguard of Mr. E.T. Mensah, the Minister of Employment and Social Welfare.
According to the statement, the vehicle of the Task Force that was responding to a distress call during the District Level Elections was obstructed by a Toyota van that was discharging supplies into a nearby store at the Ashiaman market junction.
It said “a soldier-member of the patrol got down and attempted to impress upon the driver of the van to reverse from the road to allow the patrol go through, but he refused. In the attempt to get the defiant driver to do the right thing, there was exchange of words between the soldier and the civilian driver.
“A policeman in uniform appeared on the scene and attempted to prevent the patrol members from ensuring that the driver got the van out of the way. Even when the patrol leader, a Police Inspector prevailed upon him to reason with the patrol, he would not budge”, the statement said.
The statement said the policeman “threatened the patrol members with his side arm” and another soldier in the Task Force attempted to disarm the policeman and in the process both men fell on the ground, resulting in their weapons going off and seriously injuring the two.
It said both wounded personnel were rushed to the Tema General Hospital where the policeman later died.
Meanwhile, the High Command of the military and police have expressed their condolences to the bereaved family and sympathies to the injured soldier, wishing him speedy recovery.
The statement noted that the incident was an unfortunate isolated one, and that “there exists a very cordial relationship between and among the security services. The joint Elections Security Task Force patrol in fact was composed of members of the army, navy, police and fire service”.
It said a joint investigative team was being constituted to further investigate the matter, reminding the public that it was their duty to assist security personnel carry out their legitimate duties.