Kumasi, June 09, GNA – The mother of one of the injured victims of the June 29 Ejura Disturbances has called for justice for the victims of the clash between the irate youth and security officials in the Ashanti Regional town.
Two persons died, while four others suffered various degrees of injuries in a shooting incident in an attempt by military and police officers to control the violent protestors.
Madam Agatha Donyina, a trader at the Ejura Market in the Ejura/Sekyedumasi Municipality, Friday told the Ministerial Committee investigating into the disturbances that her son was not among the irate youth.
She said her son, Louis Ayepa, a 20-year-old final year Senior High School student, who had returned home sick from school on that fateful day, was hit by what was later identified by doctors as a bullet, when he was entering a drug store to buy medicine.
She said she was in her room when she saw on television that there was a clash between the youth and the Police in the town.
“I called my son on phone to be certain he was safe but someone responded that he had gone to buy something. Just after that, I received another call that my son had been killed,” she narrated.
“I rushed to the Hospital where I saw my son being treated by the medical officers,” she told the Committee.
Madam Donyina said the son told her after he regained consciousness that he was entering a drug store to buy medicine when something suddenly hit him.
He touched his stomach only to realise he was bleeding and sought assistance from people around who rushed him to the Hospital.
The woman who is a single mother of three, appealed to the Government, through the Committee, to support her and also find justice for Loius.
She said Louis, who was still on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), had undergone surgery and was responding to treatment.
He thanked the Chief of Ejura and his elders for their support since the unfortunate incident.
The demonstration followed the death on Monday, June 28, of 45-year-old Ibrahim Mohammed, also known as Kaaka, described as a social media activist.
He was attacked by some unknown assailants when he was returning on his motorbike on the dawn of the previous day and died on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where he was receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, three persons have been remanded by the Asokwa District Court following their arrest over Kaaka’s death.
Issakar Ibrahim, also known as Anyas, Fuseini Alhassan and Iddi Mohammed, the brother of Kaaka, are facing two charges – conspiracy to commit crime and murder.
The Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Derry under the instruction of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, appointed a three-member Ministerial Committee to look into the circumstances that led to the shooting of civilians during the riot.
The three-member Ministerial Committee investigating the Ejura disturbances, is chaired by Justice George Kingsley Koomson, a Court of Appeal Judge, with Mr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a security analyst and Ms Juliet Adima Amoah, Executive Director of Penplusbyte, a civil society organisation, as members.
So far, 10 witnesses have appeared before the Committee to give evidence.
They are Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Erastus Asare-Donkor, a Journalist with the Multimedia Group, Brigadier General Joseph Aphour, GOC, Central Command of the Ghana Army and Lieutenant Colonel Kwasi Ware Peprah, Commander of 4BN.
Others are DCOP David Agyemang Adjem, Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Mr. Edward Oppong Marfo, a Reporter of Citi TV and DSP Kwadwo Hammond.
The rest are Alhaji Mohammed Salisu Bamba, Municipal Chief Executive for Ejura Sekyedumase, Dr. Mensah Manye, Medical Superintendent of Ejura Government Hospital and Madam Agatha Donyina, a trader and mother of one of the victims.
The evidence of a witness from Ejura was, however, taken in camera by the Committee for security reasons.
The Committee, which started the sittings on July 6, has 10 days to present their findings after their investigation.
GNA