Demand for investigation into the killing of taxi driver by Volta Police.
The police invasion of Gbi-Wegbe in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region on Friday, December 9, 2022, at 11:30 pm, which led to the shooting and killing of a 29-year-old taxi driver, Bismarck Charles Opare, has created tension in the community. The youth, angered by the incident, took to the streets to protest with placards demanding justice and an end to police night patrols.
At a press conference in Gbe-Wegbe, the Chief of the town, Togbe Keh XII, expressed surprise at the conduct of the police, who shot indiscriminately in the town. According to Togbe Keh, the preliminary investigation carried out by the chiefs revealed that the police team that came from Ho Command were not assigned to carry out any operation at Gbi-Wegbe.
Togbe Keh pointed out that Hohoe, as per the Police administrative structure, has been given a regional status with a substantive regional Police Commander and administratively, any operation within its jurisdiction ought to be authorised by the Hohoe Police Command, which was not the case.
After the police gunned down the unarmed taxi driver, they left the scene to an unknown destination, leaving the community baffled by their actions. Togbe Keh expressed concern over the possibility of police personnel engaging in such operations under the guise of enforcing the law, only to extort money from perceived suspects.
The Chief, on behalf of the chiefs, elders, and youth, called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to set up a non-prejudiced committee to conduct an in-depth investigation into the cause of the operation leading to the death of Opare. The report should be made within two weeks and should be made public, especially to the chiefs, elders, and the victim’s family. Those found culpable should be dealt with accordingly, and adequate compensation paid to the bereaved families.
However, the Volta Regional Police Command and Hohoe Police Command denied any knowledge of an official operation at Gbi-Wegbe because no police personnel were officially assigned to any night duty there on December 9, 2022.