The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Isaac Kofi Egyir, has acknowledged the unfortunate brawl between officers of the Bawku Local Prison and a detachment of the Ghana Army stationed in the same town.
The clash, which occurred in the evening of Wednesday, April 24, saw heavily armed officers in a tense confrontation.
A video circulating on social media showed an officer with severe facial injuries, and another officer expressing distress from a pickup.
Read also: Prison officer injured in clash with soldiers in Bawku
Addressing the clash in a statement on Friday, April 26, Mr Egyir described the incident as an unhealthy situation that should not have occurred, especially between members of the country’s national security institutions in a town as unstable as Bawku.
He said in an effort to address the conflict swiftly, he convened an immediate teleconference with the top echelons of the military, the police and other stakeholders within the national security framework, even as the events were unfolding in Bawku.
He said he has initiated an investigation into the incident which will lay bare the facts.
“Besides, a high-powered delegation from the Prisons Headquarters is on its way to the region and to the Bawku Local Prison, in order to ascertain the facts of the matter and hold relevant discussions with the Regional Security Council.”
Mr Egyir urged all officers, especially those in Bawku, to exercise the highest restraint while the requisite steps are taken by the authorities of the Prisons and the Army to resolve this matter, given the volatile nature of the incident and the sensitivity of its reportage.
“As a disciplined institution, all officers are thus called upon to exhibit propriety, reverence, and professionalism in their discourse on this matter and allow due processes to take their course.
“Consequently, it is prudent to stop forthwith all unsolicited postings of the events on social media, as the Public Relations unit can handle them appropriately,” part of the statement read.
Additionally, the Director-General commended the Officer-in-Charge of Bawku Local Prisons and his officers for the tact with which the incident was handled subsequently, which ultimately prevented it from degenerating into an explosive situation.
“All are assured that the Prisons Administration is committed to attaining the best interest and welfare of its officers and will never renege on its quest to ensure that these ideals are secured at all times.”
Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyNews
