The chiefs, elders and residents of Mpataba led by the Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, are demanding justice for one of their own who was killed at the West Hills Mall in Accra.
Shadrack Aloo, 32, died few minutes after allegedly being tased by a shop manager at the Mall following a misunderstanding between the deceased and a police officer who had handcuffed him on January 30.
Clad in red and black attire, wielding placards on Saturday, February 4, 2023, the people of Mpataba took to the principal streets to protest the murder of Aloo who was preparing to travel to Germany that fateful week.
They first marched peacefully to River Mpataba where the chief priest poured libation to invoke curses on anyone who would be partial or lie about the murder to be killed by the river deity.
They then converged at a venue where various leaders addressed the crowd.
The MP for Jomoro, Dorcas Afo Toffey called for calm, noting that she has started pushing for justice for the late Aloo.
Recounting what led to the gentleman’s death, the MP noted that the deceased resisted a search on him by a police officer who was using force to do so.
“This subsequently led to a raising of alarm from the police officer, inviting other security guards at the mall to bring Shadrack to the ground handcuffed and continue to use taser on him.”
The MP said she has called on a human rights lawyer who is also a Member of Parliament, Francis Sosu, to take up the case.
The Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General and the Parliamentary select Committee on Defense and Interior will all be petitioned on the matter.
“Justice for Shadrach is what we are all seeking for,” Madam Affo-Toffey maintained.
She called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to issue a statement to condemn the action of the police and commiserate with the family of the deceased as he did when George FLyod was murdered in the USA, noting that Shadrack died in a similar fashion.
She also wants the IGP to thoroughly investigate the case to bring the culprit to book as well as adequate compensation paid to the family.
Shadrack Aloo was survived by a four-year-old son.
Meanwhile, the shop manager who used taser on the deceased currently facing trial at District Court in Accra.