Declaring Takoradi ‘pregnant’ woman a suspect is dangerous – Amaliba tells Ghana Police Service

The Director of the Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Abraham Amaliba has described as dangerous the decision by the Ghana Police Service to declare the victim in the Takoradi kidnapping case, Ms Josephine Panyin Mensah as a suspect.

He said the development would deter residents from reporting kidnapping cases to authorities for fear of being treated in like manner.

 “The woman, her family, even market women have indicated seeing her pregnant so for the police to come up with such statement and now turn her into a suspect is dangerous because there are a lot of kidnapping cases in Takoradi. What this will do is to put fear in people to come out to report such cases”.

Mr Amaliba made the comment on TV3 NewDay on Thursday, September 23, monitored by GhanaPlus.com.

He said with kidnapping cases on the surge in the region due to the discovery of oil, the Police Service would only succeed in putting fear in the people and that could be dangerous for the country as many kidnappers would go scot free.

“Takoradi have had it fair share of kidnapping, Takoradi now because of the oil boom you now have miscreant in the community so for the police to come out with such a statement when the medical officer just told us that he needs to get clearance to put this out,” he said.

He was of the firm believe the Police Service was only covering up for the Regional Minister following his announcement that the woman was not pregnant adding information in the public domain  does not collaborate with that of the service.

“Are we saying that all these community members conspired with the woman to lie that she was pregnant, all these community members and that is why I sitting here saying that this statement must be taken with a pinch of salt because the fact as we know them do not support this statement and I think that this is another cover up this must be exposed. It doesn’t mean that because the statement is coming from the police we should take it hook line and sinker without interrogating the statement,” he said.

Police declares missing but found Takoradi woman suspect

The Ghana Police Service on  Thursday, September 23,  declared as suspect the pregnant woman, Ms Josephine Panyin Mensah, who was reported missing at Takoradi and found in Axim.

Their reasons, the Police Service said preliminary investigations had suggested Ms Mensah was never pregnant.

 “The police is heavily relying on medical experts who have examined her. Their findings are that Josephine Panyin Mensah was never pregnant, within the period under review following thorough medical examination by the medical doctors at the Axim Government Hospital”.

“The victim, now a suspect, during Interrogation mentioned the European Hospital in Takoradi as the hospital for her antenatal reviews and assessment. Medical records at the facility suggest that the lady visited the hospital without pregnancy somewhere in October last year,” a statement signed by Acting Director–General, Public Affairs, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP), Kwesi Ofori said.

According to the statement, investigations have also revealed the woman may have conspired with others over a possible planned disappearance.

Four persons including her husband and mother have been arrested to assist with investigations.

Source: GhanaPlus.com