Presidential Staffer Causes The Dismissal Of Four Policemen

IT HAS now emerged that even before the deputy Interior Minister, Kobby Acheampong’s recent encounter with some policemen, another official working with President Atta Mills has caused the interdiction and virtual dismissal of four serving police officers.

Latest in the news is presidential staffer and National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ludwig Akpene Hlodze, who has caused the interdiction of four police personnel, who are currently sitting at home for the past nine months with no pay.

The officers are Corporal Listowell Appiah Kubi, Lance Corporal Emmanuel Togah, Constables Bismark Sarfo and Francis Birikorang, all of the Striking Force unit of Accra Regional Command of the Police Service.

They were interdicted following a complaint of alleged misconduct lodged against them by Ludwig, a man described by former President Rawlings as a ‘little twitch’ for using police motorcade.

Daily Guide sources at the police headquarters hinted that it followed a misunderstanding between Ludwig and the police officers at Atimpoku.

Though Ludwig declined to comment on the issue when DAILY GUIDE contacted him, our information is that on Saturday, February 12, 2011, the policemen and a number of their colleagues, together with their station officer, were travelling from Accra to the Volta Region to attend the final funeral rites of one of their own.

Upon reaching Atimpoku close to the famous Adomi Bridge, around 6am, the policemen who were all in uniform were said to have met a vehicular traffic jam because a section of the bridge had been closed for repair works, making the bridge a one way.

This, according to the source, compelled the interdicted policemen to get down from the bus on which they were travelling in order to help in controlling the traffic.

At the time, some vehicles were said to have blocked the bridge, making it virtually impossible for vehicles coming from the Volta Region to pass and make way for those from Accra heading for the region.For this reason, one of the policemen in uniform was said to have asked the drivers of all the vehicles behind their bus to move back so they could also move back to enable the free flow of traffic.

Apparently, Ludwig was driving one of those vehicles in the company of a certain lady by name Emefa, who was later identified as a police chief inspector at the quartermaster’s office at the police headquarters. They were probably on their way to a funeral since they were said to be wearing black.

When he got to the vehicle, the policeman was said to have told Ludwig to move back a little. He then went to stand behind the car to direct him but the Castle boy would not budge.

The policeman, according to the source, told Ludwig politely, “My friend come back small”, obviously not aware of his identity.

That seemed to have infuriated Ludwig who was said to have got down from his car shouting, “Who is your friend? who is your friend?” pointing his finger at the policeman.

He reportedly asked, “Do you know the person you are talking to?” with the policeman also asking whether the use of the word ‘my friend’ was an insult.

By this time, other policemen including those interdicted, who were singing in the bus, came down to see what the problem was, thereby creating a scene.

The NDC youth organiser was said to have picked his mobile phone to call the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Paul Tawiah Quaye, and some other top police officers, over the altercation.

The source claimed he told the top officer that the policemen were drunk and misbehaving with guns on the road so early in the morning.

Meanwhile, none, among the policemen, was said to be wielding a gun. The officer, in turn, was said to have asked for the phone to be given to the policeman so he could talk to him. Though he did not know the said officer on the other end, the policeman was said to have gladly accepted to speak with him.

At the time, the source said there was some noise in the background, compelling the supposed senior officer to ask the policeman whether the noise in the area was the result of the misunderstanding.

Later, Ludwig’s companion, the police chief inspector, was said to have described the policemen as illiterates, making one of them to also inquire about her level of education.

A couple of days after the incident, the policemen were invited to the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) unit where they were queried and drilled under the scorching sun (between 1-2pm) with rifles for one hour in the presence of Ludwig and his companion, only for them to receive interdiction letters a month later in March.

The four policemen were charged with ‘lack of civility’ and ‘misconduct’ for which they went on trial.

According to the source, one of them who lost his wife could not even attend the funeral in the Northern Region because he did not have money. Acting Police Public Affairs Director, Cephas Arthur, is totally unaware of the issue.