The Police in the Ashanti Region have begun investigations into circumstances that led to the death of a 35-year-old man at Tafo Pankrono.
Relatives of the deceased besieged the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command on Sunday accusing police officers of beating up Kofi Poku to death.
The family claimed that Kofi Poku was chased by some officers on patrol at Tafo-Nhyaeso when he refused to stop when they asked him to stop.
The family also claimed that the officers beat up Kofi Poku until he became unconscious.
The victim was said to have been taken to the Tafo Government hospital and was later referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A statement from the police said, “the Ashanti Regional Police Command has commenced an investigation into the death of a middle-aged man at Tafo Pankrono on Sunday 7th July 2019 at about 10:00 am.”
The police say “preliminary investigation shows that a Police Patrol Team spotted a driver onboard an unregistered Toyota Pasco private saloon car, driving recklessly making other oncoming vehicles veer off their lane.”
The statement signed by ASP Godwin Ahianyo, Public Affairs Officer for the Ashanti Regional Police Command said the driver was signalled to stop but he ignored the signals from the police.
“So he was chased and arrested, where a Community Policing Assistant was to escort him to the Tafo Pankrono Police Station with the Patrol Team following closely.”
“On reaching the Tafo Government Hospital junction, the man jumped out from the vehicle. Trying to escape from the police but fell down in the process and became unconscious. The patrol team rushed him to the Tafo Government Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival,” the statement added.
The statement further added that just when the Police Patrol Team was about to leave the hospital, some youth in the area stormed the OPD and physically assaulted some of the hospital staff before whisking the body of the deceased away to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
“Reinforcement was called in and they managed to arrest Five (5) persons, who are currently assisting in investigations.”
The Police Command assured that it will follow due process to investigate the issue thoroughly “so everyone should remain calm since the outcome of the investigation will be made known to the public.”
“Eyewitnesses, drivers and residents in and around Krofrom, Tafo Pankrono and the Tafo Government Hospital area are therefore entreated to volunteer information to the police on telephone number 0541816603 or call Toll Free number 18555 or Hotline 191 in order to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of the man,” the statement added.
