IGP requests full report on Baba Yara shooting incident

The Ghana Police Service has officially informed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) of a request for a “full report” on investigations conducted into the unfortunate shooting incident which occurred at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi a few months ago from the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

That was a follow-up to an earlier letter sent to the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) from the GFA General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo on May 11, 2020, seeking an update on investigations into the said incident at the end of a Premier League match between Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea.

Scope of report
A letter signed by COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, a Director-General at the Police Headquarters in Accra and addressed to the President of the GFA upon a directive by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), stated that “the Police Administration has requested for full report on the alleged shooting of a football fan at the Baba Yara Stadium. You would be informed of latest development in due course.”

It would be recalled that on January 13, 2020, a fan of Asante Kotoko - identified as Augustine Opoku, a commercial driver - was allegedly shot by an unnamed Police Officer at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi following crowd violence which erupted after a Ghana Premier League game between Asante Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea.

The Ghana Police Service suspended the said officer immediately after the incident, pending further investigations.
 
Sports Policing Unit
Meanwhile, The Ghana Police Administration is considering the idea of setting up a special unit in the Police Service to handle sports-related issues.
This was contained in a letter signed by COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah and addressed to GFA President, Kurt E.S OKraku.

“The proposed formation of a Special Unit in the Police Service to handle sports-related issues is a laudable idea and under consideration,” the letter read.

The latest development comes as pleasant news for the GFA hierarchy.

Courtesy call on IGP
The need for a Sports Policing Unit was a request made by the GFA president on March 4, 2020, when he led a GFA delegation to call on the IGP.

The courtesy call saw the GFA delegation and the IGP discussing, among other things, strategies for the future and how to build on the existing relationship between the GFA and the Police Service.

The Police provides various services to the GFA in areas such as stadium policing, escort duties and crowd control, while some senior officials serve on specialised GFA committees.