Relatives of "Taifa killings" call for speedy prosecution

Residents off Taifa and relatives of the "Tiafa Killings" on Sunday appealed to the government to expedite action on the prosecutions of those involved in case and to compensate the families of the deceased. They noted that one year had passed and the families of the five killed on June 13, 2002 had not received compensation from government, in spite of the promise given them.

These sentiments were expressed when the residents organised a memorial ceremony for the members of the Taifa Neighborhood Watchdog Committee who were killed by a joint military/police patrol.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Sampson Darko, MP for Ga North, said one year had passed and the mystery surrounding the incident had not been unveiled, adding that, as a result "pain persists in the hearts of many wives, relatives, friends and loved ones.

The vacuum created is not filled, scarcities and emptiness created in some homes remain a bother, the general public may seem to have grossed over it, but the situation in some quarters tell a different story".

Mr. Darko urged the residents to use the occasion to foster unity instead of grieving saying, "let us remember that certain bad and painful things happen to pave the way for other good things to follow, others happen to unite the people in an area".

He said the 13th June tragedy had left unparallel goodwill, sympathy and recognition from the authorities and called on the youth not to be daunted, but to rise to the occasion to reactivate the watchdog committee to the highest level to the benefit of the society.

Mr. Jacob Ameyaw, Chairman of the Committee, said the peace and security that Ghana needs to attract investments could not only be achieved by the police force alone.

"The watchdog Committee is the ears and eyes of the police, therefore the police could not perform without their active collaboration," he said. Mr. Ameyaw said the residents would remember the "five heroes" every year

He said government had promised to compensate relatives of the deceased after the case, which was in court, adding, "government has done very well in the matter, it voted 25 million cedis, five million each to the deceased relatives for the funeral rites". Later, with the assistance of the MP, Mr. Ameyaw said the first phase of a 60-million streetlight project had been commissioned.