Gov't to prosecute 9 May disaster Police officers

The Attorney General's Department is working on the final phase of the docket for the prosecution of the Policemen implicated in the9 May Accra Sports Stadium Disaster.

Mr Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, told newsmen in Accra during the daily briefing on the Yendi crisis and other national security issues on Monday. He said in line with the government's aim of making the rule of law the hall mark of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government all the officer's found to have been implicated in the event would face criminal prosecution for the reckless use of firearms.

A Presidential Commission of Inquiry was set-up immediately after the incident to investigate and make recommendations to prevent the recurrence of the incident in which about 126 football fans died and many others were injured.

Mr Sam Okudzeto, a lawyer and Chairman of the Commission, who presented the report to government in July last year, described some of the policemen, who gave evidence at the inquiry, as dishonest and said they should be punished to act as a deterrent to people in public service.

The report identified laxity in record keeping and cited the armoury record book, in which arms issued and returned were haphazardly recorded. Mr Okudzeto said the most disturbing thing that came to their notice was that officers and men, who went to the stadium on the day of the disaster were not recorded in the station diary of the Police Striking Force.

"The Officer In-Charge of the Station detected in the evening that false entries were made in the register indicating that the men left for the stadium after 5.00 p.m. when indeed they left in the morning."

On the Stadium Disaster Fund, Mr Ayim said the amount generated would be disbursed as part of activities marking the first anniversary cerebration on 9 May 2002. In the Yendi tragedy, the Special Assistant said another person had been arrested and was assisting the Criminal Investigation Team while there was calm at both Yendi and Tamale.