POLICEMAN LYNCHED AT WASSA AKROPONG (PAGE 14)

The youth at Wassa-Bekwai, a farming community near Wassa Akropong in the Western Region, have lynched a police officer detailed to arrest a suspect.
In their quest to disarm the police officer to prevent him from carrying out his lawful duty of arresting the suspect, the AK 47 rifle being carried by the policeman went off, killing the Unit Committee Chairman, Kofi Asare Agyepong.
The death of the unit committee chairman was said to have angered the youth, who attacked the policeman, G/Cpl Martin Akandago, with clubs and other offensive instruments, leading to his death. The youth later fled the town to avoid being arrested.
According to the Western Regional Crime Officer, Mr Victor Agbetornyo, the officer was detailed to effect an arrest at Wassa-Bekwai, in the company of two community police officers.
He said upon reaching the town, one of the suspects, only named as “Fish” told the police that the case had been settled by the unit committee chairman of the town.
At that point, according to the police, a mob started gathering in the house of the suspect, Fish, and the parties involved proceeded to the house of the unit committee chairman with the police.
Mr Agbetornyo said the mob followed and later attacked the policeman and attempted to snatch the rifle from him. He added that during the scuffle the policeman’s gun went off and the unit committee chairman was hit by a bullet on the left shoulder.
The regional crime officer said after the death of the committee chairman, the mob attacked the policeman. He died at about 7p.m. last Tuesday.
He said the two accompanying community police managed to escape to give an account of the incident.
Mr Agbetornyo said when the police got to the scene, the two lifeless bodies were in the middle of the town.
He said the police had started an investigation into the matter.
The bodies of the two have currently been deposited at the Tarkwa Government Hospital, and the rifle, the spent shell and the remaining live ammunitions have been retrieved by the police.