Bono East: Regional Police Command allegedly cited in illicit trade scandal
The leadership of the Bono East Regional Police Command has been cited for an alleged bribery scandal to allow entry of illicit goods into the region.
Information released by Angel FM’s Captain Smart on the Anɔpa Gya segment of the Angel morning show on Wednesday, April 21, keenly followed by Ghanasonline.com revealed that, the Deputy Bono East Regional Police Commander (2iC) DCOP Samuel Winful has allegedly collected an amount of GHC 5,000.00 from a man transporting some illicit goods into Techiman, the regional capital.
Mr. Smart revealed that, on 15th April 2021, four policemen from the Techiman Divisional Taskforce upon a tip off arrested a man carrying some sacks suspected to contain tramadol, weed, cocaine and bullets. But upon interrogation, a call came from the Regional Operations Commander (ROC), ASP Evans Samson Kontomah, through the suspect’s phone, ordering the four officers to discharge the man. Upon refusal, Captain Smart said ASP Kontomah drove to the scene himself and took the man to the Regional Commander’s office.
At the regional command, “The 2iC, Samuel Winful and the ROC, ASP Kontomah didn’t allow the suspect to write a statement.
Meanwhile, the Regional Commander, DCOP Okyere Darko Asumadu, only checked the content of the sack with his legs and left without allowing the officers to open them when he was informed.”
“Before this April 15 incident, this same man had already been arrested in March, carrying some gallons containing some oil in a cargo car with registration number, GT 9485 H without any documents. This same suspect told the policemen who arrested him that, your ROC has ordered that we give you money to allow us to go,” Captain Smart added.
After declining the bribe offered them, the Anɔpa Bɔfoɔ host added that, the suspect told the policemen “you people are joking because if you won’t accept the money I am giving you, your bosses will accept.”
That according to the host is the moment the GHC 5,000.00 was taken by DCOP Winful when he came to the equation.
At the Regional Commander’s office, Mr. Smart said the 2iC, ASP Kontomah scolded the Regional Crime Officer for the recalcitrance of his boys, saying “your boys are very stubborn. When you’re given orders you don’t listen. When you were told to release them to go you didn’t mind us.”
The four Divisional Taskforce officers who made the arrest and refused the bribe have since been handed a suspicious transfer from the Techiman Division to the following stations.
Augustine Azakem to Atebubu, Yahaya Muhammed to Anyima, Evans Amankwah to Busunya and Bismark Gyan to Prang.
There is a call on the Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh to transfer the Bono East Regional Commander, Deputy Regional Commander, Regional Operations Commander and all those implicated in the series of ongoing scandals in the region.
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