Battering Of A customer By A Police Officer At The Midland Savings And Loans Bank At Shiashie

STATEMENT MADE ON THE FLOOR OF PARLIAMENT ON JULY 23, 2018 ON THE BATTERING OF A CUSTOMER BY A POLICE OFFICER AT THE MIDLAND SAVINGS AND LOANS BANK AT SHIASHIE BY HON. SARAH ADWOA SAFO, DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE WOMEN CAUCUS OF PARLIAMENT.

Mr. Speaker, citizens of this country on Friday, 20th July, 2018 witnessed a very horrific scenes in a video circulating in the social media that many of us are yet to come to terms with.

Mr. Speaker, in the video, a Police Officer armed with an assault rifle was seen violently battering a woman and her baby multiple times on the head, first with an umbrella, and then with his fist. The Officer continuously slapped and punched her and attempted to drag the woman violently out of the building, paying little attention to the woman cries for help and that of a baby the woman was carrying.

Mr. Speaker, a close observation of the video revealed that not much was done by the Officials at the incident scene, except that a man who appears to be an employee asking the woman to give him the baby. The man was also heard promising to give the woman GHȼ250, which was reported later to be the amount she had wanted to withdraw from the bank.

Mr. Speaker, according to media reports, the incidence took place at the Shiashie branch of Midland Savings and Loans Company in Accra where the woman, identified as Madam Patience Osafo, had gone to withdraw her money she had deposited with the Bank. The Police Officer, who was identified as Lance Corporal Frederick Amanor, was the Police Officer on guard duties at the bank.

Mr. Speaker, this very unfortunate incident as captured in the video was unacceptable and defies logic as there was disproportionate show of power. Though, the video did not reveal what might have occasioned the incidence, it is difficult for anybody to fathom what might have occasioned such a brutality from the Police Officer.

To quote our President, His Excellency Nana Akuffo Addo, “policemen are meant to protect citizens, not to assault citizens.” The Police Service as citizens’ refuge cannot become unsafe haven for the citizens. Not now and ever! The actions of the Police Officer is irreconcilable with our democratic values, respect for human rights and human dignity and our resolve as country to ensure that the rule of law reign supreme in potential conflict situation no matter the provocation.

In many of our discourses on development, Microfinance or Savings and Loans Companies have become a symbol of compassion and women economic empowerment in many developing countries including Ghana. It is very unfortunate that this incidence attempts to depict that symbol in a manner that is not of compassion, and which disregard the plight of our women or the vulnerable in society and the dignity of womanhood.

The Women Caucus join H.E the President, the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection and the general public to condemn the actions of the Police Officer involved. We wish to also register our disappointment in the staff and bystanders at the Branch of the Midland Savings and Loans Company at Shiashie whose actions and inactions propelled the assault.

The Caucus calls for justice for the woman. The Caucus joins President Nana Akufo-Addo and other well-meaning Ghanaians to support fully any sanction the Police administration will take against the Police Officer to serve as a deterrent to other recalcitrant officers who assault citizens instead of protecting them.

Above all, I call for the investigations to be transparent and the public updated through this august House. We also call on the Hon. Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection to also take steps to ensure that the requisite medical needs of the woman are met to enable her recover.

Mr. Speaker, the person or the Whistleblower who circulated the video requires the protection of the State. This august House has passed the Whistleblower Act of 2007 (Act 702) and the recently passed Witness Protection Act of 2018 to assist whistleblowers in matters such as this.

I urge the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Ghana Police Service and other investigative body to ensure that these laws guide them in their investigations so that the Whistleblower does not suffer any victimisation or attack from any unscrupulous or disgruntled persons or groups.

To conclude, Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence, I wish on behalf of the Women Caucus to extend our sympathies to Madam Patience Osafo and her families and to assure them that the Caucus will support her to get justice. We also wish her speedy recovery from whatever injury she might have sustained from the incident

I thank you Mr. Speaker for the attention and the opportunity once again.

Source: Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo