Child Rights International (CRI) has condemned the method of intervention by the Police Service in the Ashanti Region during the protest by the Islamic High school students.
In a statement by CRI, it intimated that the conduct of the Police in firing live ammunition and tear gas into a crowd of children on the school’s campus was against the best interest of children that were involved.
According to CRI, the move will also have psychological ramifications perpetuated by the negative images and perception of the law enforcement that has been created in the minds of these children during their confrontation with members of the service.
“This certainly does not serve their best interest or that of their parents, school authorities and society.”
Child Rights International
CRI asserted that the presence of the Police on any school campus, especially one inhabited by minors, should be friendly and in an effort to protect the best interest of children in accordance with the Welfare Principle Section Two (2) of the Children’s Act 560 of the Ghanaian constitution.
“Any individual or organization who seeks to gain access to such an environment must go through due processes required by law and conduct themselves appropriately once access has been granted.”
Child Rights International
The Child Rights International (CRI) further asked the Ghana Education Service (GES) to investigate the circumstances that led to the Police shooting at the Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi.
“The GES must launch a full-fledged investigation into the matter and subsequently make provisions to prevent and ensure that state and non-state institutions, media and individuals accessing the school do so through the right processes.”
Child Rights International
Review training methodology for security agencies
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has called for a review of the training methodology for persons recruited into the Police service and other security agencies.
Speaking in relation to the Police shooting incident that occurred at the Islamic Senior High School in Kumasi, Dr. Antwi Danso stated that there is the need to thoroughly assess persons being recruited into the service.
Dr Antwi-Danso lamented that it is rather very unfortunate that year in, year out, virtually and consistently, crowd control always turns awry.
“There will be demonstrations, there will be riots but unfortunately most of our rioting end up with Police confrontation; it is bad. Recrafting the training methodologies is also important.
“What kind of people are we recruiting into the Police service or any other service? What kind of training are we giving them? Because crowd control, crowd dispersal and crisis management is a science; we need to learn it.”
Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso
Over thirty students of the Islamic Senior High School were rushed to the hospital after the police allegedly fired tear gas and live bullets to disperse students who were demonstrating over incessant vehicular knockdown.
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