Constable demands rifle at probe

Constable George Gyamfi of the Striking Force Unit of the Ghana Police Service demanded a pump action rifle at the Presidential Commission probing the Accra Sports Stadium disaster to enable him to determine the time he used in firing seven rounds of ammunition, while on duty on May 9.

The Policeman, who was part of the stadium details on the day of the disaster, said he could only give the time lapse between firing a round and reloading for another shot, if he had a rifle to demonstrate.

He said though he fired seven rounds of thunder shots from his pump action gun, it was impossible for him to tell the time he used in dispensing them, adding that he returned three of the unspent ammunition to the armourer in line with Police regulations.

Constable Gyamfi said he was ordered by Chief Superintendent (CSP) Nana Koranteng Mintah, Commander of the Armoured Cars Squadron, to open fire and he obliged by firing into the sky, but was directed by the CSP to target those breaking and throwing plastic chairs.

He said after shooting seven times, he stopped on his own volition and not on the orders of any superior officer, even though, his Deputy Commander, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) John Naami and ASP Frank Awuh and ASP B. B. Bakomora had come to the scene of the shooting.

The evidence of Constable Gyamfi, that, CSP Mintah gave the orders to shoot was corroborated by another constable, Godwin Wudah, also of the Striking Force.

Constable Wudah could not, however, reconcile the number and type of ammunition he was given with the records of the armourer, Corporal James Botolo Litey.

While Corporal Litey said he issued Constable Wudah with a stopper, three rounds of teargas canisters and two rounds of rubber bullets and tendered his records in evidence, Constable Wudah said he received five rounds of rubber bullets and a stopper.

There was also disagreement between the two Policemen over the number of ammunition the Constable returned to the armoury as Corporal Litey claimed that he spent all the five rounds while Constable Wudah insisted he returned three.

Earlier the Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana, Mr Ebo Quansah had told the Commission that he appealed to some Policemen to stop shooting but they refused and asked him what he knew about riot control.

He said he was moved by pity to do that after the Police had fired about 15 shots into the defenceless crowd and saw no attempt by any officer to stop the shooting.

After his evidence Mr Quansah presented a memorandum entitled " Securing our game against disasters" to the Commission on behalf of SWAG.