Thursday, 13th February, 2025
Hon Bawah Muhammad Braimah
Ejura Sekyeredumase
Mr Speaker, I wish to express my deepest condolences to the family of the late Misbawu Shaibu.
I also take this opportunity to appeal to the youth of Ejura to remain calm and allow due process to take its course. While I strongly condemn the violent destruction of the Ejura Police Station, I urge all stakeholders to address this matter with the seriousness it deserves, to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.
Mr Speaker, the ravaging of the Ejura Police Station through fire by rampaging youth, following the death of Misbawu Shaibu in police custody is deeply regrettable. I appeal to the youth of Ejura to exercise restraint and avoid actions that jeopardise community resources. The destroyed property does not belong to the Ghana Police Service personnel, but to the people of Ejura. The Ejura Police Station, built before Ghana's independence, has served the community for decades, providing vital law enforcement services. It is therefore unfortunate that the events of 11th January, 2025, led to its total destruction.
Mr Speaker, this tragic incident could have been avoided with better handling by the police. The late Misbawu Shaibu, a young man in his twenties, was alleged to have bought a stolen phone. On the evening of 10th January, 2025, the police invited him to the station via a phone call. He complied, arriving on his motorbike with the alleged stolen phone. After interrogation, he was taken into custody. Despite his plea to return home and report back the next day, which included an offer to leave behind his motorbike and phone, his request was denied. He reportedly told the police he was unwell, having just returned from Amantin market.
Mr Speaker, while in custody, Misbawu Shaibu complained of abdominal pain and began vomiting. When his condition worsened, the police took him to the Ejura Government Hospital, where he passed away. Without informing his family, the police moved his body to Mampong, in the early hours of 11th January, 2025. When the family arrived at the police station that morning to visit him, they were informed of his death. This news understandably infuriated them, and word spread that Misbawu had died in custody due to police brutality.
Mr Speaker, the youth, angered by the news, began gathering at the police station. Sensing danger, the police evacuated inmates, documents, and firearms to the divisional headquarters. At approximately 7:00 a.m., I received a call from the municipal crime officer about the escalating situation. Though I was in Accra, I immediately contacted the Assemblyman for the Kotokoli line Electoral Area, who was at the scene, and urged him to appeal to the youth for calm. I also advised the police to call for reinforcement. The Divisional Commander assured me that reinforcements were on their way from Mampong and Nsuta.
Mr Speaker, despite these efforts, the situation deteriorated. After 30 minutes, I received several calls about the growing unrest at the station. I contacted the Ashanti North Regional Police Commander and the commander of the army detachment, Lt. Effah, requesting immediate intervention. Unfortunately, the promised reinforcements never arrived, and the police station was set ablaze by the rampaging youth.
Later, Mr Speaker, the Municipal Crime Officer called me to request that the Assemblyman inform the family to meet them at the police barrier for the release of Misbawu's body. I implored on them not to release the body amid the disturbances and appealed to the Divisional and Regional Commanders to prioritise an autopsy before handing over the body. Despite my plea, the body was released without an autopsy. However, I later coordinated with the police and medical superintendent to ensure an autopsy was performed by a pathologist from Kumasi.
This step was crucial to establish the cause of death and address public concerns.
Mr Speaker, the sequence of events clearly demonstrates that if the police had acted professionally and proactively, this tragic incident and the destruction of the police station could have been averted. The evacuation of inmates and sensitive materials shows that the police anticipated the potential for violence but failed to implement adequate preventive measures.
Mr Speaker, I urgently appeal to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the circumstances leading to this unfortunate incident, and hold those responsible accountable. Furthermore, I call on the Minister for the Interior to prioritise rebuilding the Ejura Police Station and increasing the number of police personnel in the municipality to enhance effective policing.
Mr Speaker, I remain committed to supporting efforts to restore peace and strengthen law enforcement in our community. May the soul of Misbawu Shaibu rest in peace.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Hon Frank Afriyie
Afadjato South
Mr Speaker, let me thank you so much, and with your leave, congratulate the maker of the Statement.
I also wish to convey sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Indeed, this should be a trying moment, and we stand in absolute solidarity with them.
Mr Speaker, listening to the maker of the Statement, I was almost frozen into speechlessness. Indeed, a healthy and law-abiding young man has been invited by the police and as a law-abiding citizen, he complied and followed up. It is shocking to learn how such a healthy man would go the place but never came back; it is something that can agitate our youth anywhere: right from Navrongo to Paga, Afadjato to Adaklu, or anywhere at all.
Mr Speaker, however, it also shows that, increasingly, we are becoming a society of violence. The action or reaction of the youth cannot, in any form or shade, be validated. Using violent confrontation as a tool to the extent of burning down a police station should be condemned with all the force that we can marshal. It is intolerable; it is reprehensible, and it is inexcusable. We cannot tolerate that, and we must, as a matter of time, move in quickly to engage our youth to apply the best tools in their toolbox even when the situation is dire. Mr Speaker, most importantly—
Mr Speaker, this Statement shows that our response time and approach is defective on occasions like this. The young man complained of stomach ache, so what happened to our first aid system? If there was any first aid system, would he have passed on? I believe not. Again, from the Statement, we are told the police actually envisaged the reaction of the youth and in the face of all that, they could not call for reinforcement. These are very legitimate issues that I think we must consider going forward.
Mr Speaker, once again, our hearts are with the family in this trying moment. I thank you for the opportunity.
Hon Sanja Nanja
Atebubu/Amantin
Thank you, Mr Speaker for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by the Hon Member for Ejura Sekyeredumase.
Mr Speaker, of late, the vandalism associated with the youth of this country is becoming something very serious and alarming. With every provocation, government properties are attacked and vandalised. On this very day, the 11th January, a similar thing happened in my own constituency. What was it? It was because armed robbers killed a 75-yearold driver, and the drivers and some youth decided to demonstrate against the police with the perception that the police is not doing as expected of them since armed robbery has become very rampant along the Kumasi-Ejura-Atebubu Road.
Mr Speaker, in the case of Atebubu, the only two pickups for patrols were vandalised, and the police were now left unable to go for patrol. I think a serious look must be taken, and normally, the youth involved in this would have to be punished, but what do we realise? In most cases, when it happens this way, no proper investigation is done, no arrest is effected. If something is not done and it goes this way, I am afraid, we are sitting on a time bomb. This is because any government property, with little provocation, would be under attack: schools, police stations, among others. The same youth are calling for infrastructure development; meanwhile, the same youth destroy the little we have. Mr Speaker, so, I would call on the police to investigate this issue thoroughly.
With this, Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Hon John Ntim Fordjour
Assin South
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker,
I rise to commend the maker of the Statement, Hon Muhammad Bawah Braimah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejura Sekyeredumase for bringing to the fore, the violence that took place in Ejura Sekyeredumase in relation to the attack on the police station. And to commend the Member of Parliament for his role played in calming the situation so far, and also join him and my other Colleagues in signaling our condolences to the families of the deceased.
Mr Speaker, the growing state of acts of violence in this country, particularly within the span of a month or two, is quite worrying and deserves every condemnation there is. Much as many have condemned the alleged mishandling of the deceased by the police, it is also equally condemnable any acts of violence meted out on the police station that led to its destruction, which now requires the same modest resources of the state to be deployed in rebuilding.
Mr Speaker, I always say a society is a reflection of what leaders advocate for, and we as a political class, have a cue to take particularly when we almost see it becoming all right that known or unknown military personnel must raid a private residence of a former Minister. When Electoral Commission must be attacked for the conduct of their legitimate constitutional duty, when —
Mr Speaker, I am guided by Order 93. So, it is important that all these acts—They dovetail into violence which undermine the peace that this country enjoys. Consistently for the past four to five years, the Global Peace Index and many organisations have ranked Ghana as the most peaceful country in Africa; even globally as one of the most peaceful in the top five.
The recent one ranked Ghana as second most peaceful in the world even ahead of Australia and Canada. It is important that we all do our parts to consolidate this sterling credential so we do not undermine the peace and security we all enjoy.
It is important that devoid of politicisation, we show leadership in rallying the rest of our society with us in condemning acts of violence regardless who conducted it. And even when suspects in the case of the deceased, Mr Shaibu—even when a suspect is alleged to have conducted a wrong doing or a crime, they deserve the right to be heard; they deserve the right for fair trial; they do not need to be condemned. In the handling of prosecution, their dignity ought to be upheld.
So, all these are lessons we need to take and apply in consistency with this principle wherever certain offences are suspected. With these few words, I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon Mohammed Adams Sukparu
Sissala West
Thank you Mr Speaker for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by my Colleague, Hon Member for Ejura Sekyeredumase. Mr Speaker, this particular issue is very important for us as leaders in this country.
Mr Speaker, victims dying in police custody has become something that has been happening in the past few years. I recall on 1st March, 2023, a woman who was a stroke patient died in police custody. And sometimes, one asks oneself the kind of investigations the police are conducting that they would have to keep somebody in their custody for more than 48 hours as the law requires.
We are all aware of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the past, that says that all offences are now bailable. And that before anyone can detain anybody for more than 48 hours for investigations as a police officer, they need to go to court for permission if they are not done with the investigation. So that the person can either be kept in police custody or prison custody while the investigation continues. But with this, Mr Speaker, I think in as much as I condemn the actions of the youth, I think the police also are supposed to be blamed.
If seriousness is attached to matters like this, especially when it has to do with petty theft issues, the police must attach seriousness to the investigation and make sure that these matters are investigated within the laws that are stated. But when you have a victim kept in custody for more than 48 hours, all in the name of investigation, if something happens to the person, certainly, the youths or the relatives would react.
Mr Speaker, I would want to use this opportunity to call on the Police and all the security agencies to attach seriousness and make sure that when there is a case before them to investigate, they do it within the laws.
With these few words, Mr Speaker, I thank you once again for the opportunity.
AskParly