Police, NPP MPs tango over hospital visit

Director of Police Public Affairs, DSP Kwesi Ofori The Police Administration has expressed misgivings about the manner in which some members of the Minority in Parliament stormed the Police Hospital to visit victims of the Agbogbloshie violence. The legislators numbering about 40 – accompanied by journalists – on Thursday went to the male ward of the hospital unannounced, hospital authorities said. Director of Police Public Affairs, DSP Kwesi Ofori, told Joy News the MPs “went to the hospital in their numbers and that really disturbed the general situation at the male ward and the hospital in general." He said “it is the wish of the Police Administration that this matter will not be politicized,” as the police investigate it and try to bring tempers down. Tuesday’s clash between two groups at the Konkomba Market turned into a bloodbath resulting in three deaths while several others were injured. Police are yet to establish the real cause of the violence, but others have cited political motives. The NPP MP for Bilbilla, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, who was part of the delegation that visited the police hospital rejected the police assertion. He argued that due permission was sought before the MPs entered the ward. According to him, MP for Manhyia, Dr Opoku Prempeh spent close to 45 minutes going through the processes to pave way for the visit. Mr Nitiwul maintained that the Administrator of the hospital who insisted on seeking clearance from the Inspector General of Police, Paul Quaye before allowing the MPs into the hospiatl eventually said he had clearance. In fact, the administrator, Nitiwul argued, conducted the MPs round to see the victims of the dastardly act. He wondered where the claims that they stormed the place unannounced came from. MPs visit Members of Parliament’s Committee on Interior and Defence on Friday visited the scene of the violence to assess the extent of damage in the wake of the disturbance. The committee members interacted with residents of the area listening to what may be responsible for the sporadic violent outbreaks in the area. Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana