Two persons are receiving medical treatment after sustaining severe gunshot injuries when the youth clashed with the Akatsi police on Sunday morning.
The rioting youth were said to have massed up at the police station to demand the release of a motorbike the Akatsi police seized on Friday night.
This was after the police allegedly run down three persons on a motorbike with their riot van, near the Akatsi Training College, resulting in the death of one of the riders.
The development resulted in an altercation that led to the police allegedly firing shots at the youth.
The two injured persons were rushed to Ho for medical attention.
According to an eyewitness, military persons have been called in to help maintain law and order and prevent the situation from escalating.
The youth say, police in the district have constantly harassed persons on motorbikes.
According to them, only a few months ago, police in the Akatsi district brutalized a young man after he was accused of stealing.
The accused later died, resulting in a misunderstanding between the police and the youth.
“On Friday night, the police used their car to hit one of the youth around 11 pm and when they sent him to the district hospital, the person died. This morning, the youth went to the police station to take the motorbike and the police started fighting with the guys. They shot two of the guys who have been taken to Ho for treatment.”
“The police have brought some armoured cars and they are shooting in the town,” the eyewitness said.
Meanwhile, the police in Akatsi say, efforts are underway to calm tension among the angry youth.
According to the Akatsi District Commander of Police, Supt. Isaac Baah, police are working together with the leaders of the community, to resolve the differences and will address the issues.
CCF’s crime prevention advocacy
Aside paying the fines of petty offenders and re-integrating them into society, Crime Check Foundation (CCF) has introduced programmes including the latest ‘Stay Away From Trouble’ as part of its crime prevention advocacy project.
Through these programmes CCF cautions the general public against acts that could land them in trouble in a bid to curb crime.
The Foundation screens one-on-one interviews with prison inmates bringing to bear acts that landed them in prison and the difficulties they face in custody.
