What happened to the IGP, COP David Asante-Apeatu at Asawase yesterday is something he might never forget in his life.
Maybe he has seen worse than this or maybe this is the worst he has seen.
But for young men with some as young as 15 years to chase you out is something he will always remember.
How did it all start?
The IGP, COP Asante-Apeatu yesterday had a closed-door meeting with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The Communications Minister, Mustapha Hamid, Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Boniface and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah were all at the meeting to discuss the recent shooting between the police and some men suspected to the armed robbers.
The shooting led to the death of seven men. However, family and friends of three of those who died are saying they know ‘perfectly well’ that they were not armed robbers and that the police should not have killed them.
As the death of the three men who some believed are not armed robbers led to the burning of tires and some disturbances at Asawase, the IGP and the three ministers of state decided to go to the Zongo community to hold discussions with them.
They got to the community at a time when they were at the mosque and as a result, the Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development and the Communications Minister went to the mosque to pray since they are Muslims.
The Ashanti Regional Minister went to his office while the police IGP went to the Police Headquarters.
If you will remember, some months ago, a man called Alidu Lawal was shot by a policeman at Ohwim Amanfrom. The reason for his killing, we still do not know. Some Zongo boys attacked Suame police station after the incident to show their anger.
According to members of the Zongo community, the police have been killing them for no reason for far longer and it is high time they put an end to that.
Yesterday was the day the family was given the body of the late Alidu Lawal for burial.
The Ministers and the leaders of the community after performing the rites to pave way for the burial of the late Alidu left and went to where they will be having their meeting.
Nevertheless, the IGP was in the right place at the wrong time. After the shooting which led to the death of the seven men, the youth in the area had sent out a warning to the police that they do not want them in the area unless they bring the proof that their allegations against the three men they believe are innocent are true.
While they were going to bury the late Alidu Lawal, they met the IGP on his way to the meeting.
And that was when the clash between the police and the youth at Asawase started.
Stones and other objects were thrown by the youth and tear gas was fired by the police.
They booed the IGP and resisted all efforts by the police to disperse them. The IGP had no option than to leave the area.
Soldiers were sent to the area after the IGP left and their presence restored calm.
It was later gathered that the IGP and his team later met with the Ministers at the Regional Coordinating Council to hold a meeting on recent events at Asawase.
