NewzThe Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has directed the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the circumstances surrounding a breach of police custody involving an arrested person. The Minister has ordered the police to establish how civilians gained access to the arrested person and identify any police personnel who may have facilitated, permitted or acquiesced in the breach. He further directed that appropriate disciplinary action be taken against any police officer found culpable following the investigation.
The Inspector-General of Police has also been instructed to take immediate steps to identify, arrest and investigate the civilians allegedly involved in the assault, in accordance with the law. In addition, the Minister has ordered the police to query all supervising officers directly responsible for the custody and supervision of the persons involved. Mr Mohammed-Mubarak has further directed the police to handle all persons arrested in connection with the preceding incidents strictly in accordance with the law and without fear or favour.
The directives are aimed at establishing accountability for the alleged breach of custody and ensuring that both civilians and police personnel found to have violated the law are dealt with appropriately. Background The arrest follows a viral incident involving a pastor who was arrested for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad. While in handcuffs at the Ghana Police Service headquarters, a civilian was captured on video slapping the detained suspect, sparking widespread public debate and calls for an investigation into the security breach and assault.
The Ministry of the Interior has condemned the assault of an arrested person while in police custody, stressing that no allegation of wrongdoing gives anyone the right to attack a suspect under the protection of the State. The Ministry said the incident was particularly concerning because it followed statements attributed to persons on both sides of a religious dispute, including calls for violence against individuals considered to have offended religious sensitivities. READ ALSO: Police arrest suspect seen in viral clip slapping pastor in custody In a statement issued on Thursday, August 13, the Ministry unequivocally condemned such statements, saying there was no justification for inciting violence against Christians, Muslims or any other person based on religion.
The Ministry also stressed that an allegation of a breach of law, “however serious”, did not give any person the right to assault a suspect in police custody. “An arrested person is in the custody of the State and is entitled to the protection of the State,” the Ministry said. It said the circumstances under which civilians gained access to the person in custody were a matter of serious concern.
Consequently, the Minister for the Interior has directed the Inspector-General of Police to investigate how civilians were able to gain access to the arrested person and determine whether any police personnel facilitated, permitted or acquiesced in the breach of custody. The IGP has also been directed to take immediate steps to identify, arrest and investigate the civilians involved in the assault and ensure that they are dealt with in accordance with the law. The Ministry further ordered an investigation into the conduct of all supervising officers responsible for the custody and supervision of the persons involved.
Summary from source