Residents of Dadease in the Sekyere Kumawu District of the Ashanti Region are pleading with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to take immediate action to stop police officers in the area from abusing the locals.

This comes after a police officer was captured on camera trying to arrest a suspect on July 26, 2023 by tying a belt around his neck and dragging him across the ground.

Following the incident's widespread condemnation, the police administration reports that the accused officer has been detained and arrested, and the IGP has assured the victim's family that a thorough investigation will be conducted.

As they have expressed concerns about local police officers mistreating them, the locals insist that this is not an isolated incident and urge the IGP to take immediate action.

According to one local, who identified himself only as Kwabena Appiah, "The police claim that most of the guys in the area sell weed, so they are suspects. They will arrest you and beat you mercilessly. This has been happening for a very long time, and it is very condemnable.”

“They can take GHS500 and GHS1,000. This attitude of police officers in this area is a bad one. The police are supposed to liaise with residents and safeguard them, not oppress and harass them. We are, therefore, calling on the government to see to the end of this.”

Another resident said, “I have witnessed them beating a guy with a cane to the extent that he excreted. They just arrest people for unnecessary reasons. They keep doing what is not needful, so we want them changed.”

The family of the victim is calling for compensation, as they believe that the treatment meted out to him could have severe health implications.

The mother of the victim, Afia Owusuaa, told Citi News, “I travelled three days ago, so upon my return, I was informed that the police had arrested my son. I decided to wait and go bail him the following day, but someone came in to show me the video of what had been done to the child. And I also got to know that when they got to the station too, they hanged him. So I informed my uncle, who insisted that we stay back and not go to the station.”

“But around 7pm yesterday, high-ranking police officers came in to speak with us and admitted that how the boy was manhandled was wrong, so the officer would be dealt with accordingly. They also assured that the IGP would call the following day, which he did.”