Ghana police identifies cop who slapped woman at registration centre

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Ghana Police Service has said it has identified the officer who was  seen on video assaulting a woman at a voters’ registration center.

He has been named as No. 61588 Lance Corporal Wormernor Samuel and he is being investigated for “professional misconduct” and assault against one Madam Ofosuwaa.

The incident, according to the police, occured on July 9, 2020 at the Asofa M/A JHS in the Greater Accra Region, which is a designated voters’ registration center.

In the clip, which has been shared widely online, the officer is seen in a heated altercation with the woman who was in queue with dozens of others, waiting for their turn to register.

It is unclear what triggered the argument.

As a concerned man at the venue decides to calm tempers, the amateur footage shows the officer reaching out to he slap the middle-aged woman to the amazement of onlookers.

Others intervene to restrain the woman from confronting the peace officer as he is pulled away by some men at the yet-to-be-identified site.

The incident generated uproar on social media. In a statement issued last Saturday, the police said its attention has been drawn to the matter and will update the public in due course.

In July 2018, a police officer assaulted one Patience Osafo when she was trying to withdraw her savings of ¢270.00 after office hours due to frustrations from the bank.

According to her statement, she had begged, saying she needed GHc105 urgently to settle her debts and also feed a baby she was taking care of.

The police officer Lance Corporal Frederick Amanor got physical after Patience Osafo refused to leave the banking hall with her grandchild, because her money had not been given to her.

In a viral video, the police officer is seen holding onto the woman and hitting her multiple times with an umbrella, as she tried to wrestle away.

He also attempted to violently drag her out of the building as she held the baby in her arms.

The incident captured on video went viral on online sparking public outrage and drawing condemnation from Amnesty International, the Ghana Bar Association, the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection, and a number of civil society organizations.

Frederick Amanor was interdicted and his uniform and all other police accoutrements taken from him, pending internal disciplinary proceedings.

In addition, an investigation commenced into the conduct of officials of the Midland Savings and Loans limited.

The company suspended all the staff that were on duty at the time and agreed on a compensation package for Patience Osafo.

Source: Daily Mail GH