The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah has recommended that the driver of the police water cannon used during the Ejura protest be rewarded.

According to him, if it had not been for the strategic decision taken by the officer during the protest, many more properties and lives would have been lost.

Mr. Osei-Mensah said that during the incident, the driver retreated to prevent a clash with the angry protesters who were pelting objects at the joint police and military force on the grounds.

"That is why I have even said that the man if you are lucky and we play the clip, the driver of the water cannon vehicle must be rewarded because he took a very intelligent position to reverse even though it was risky."

"The language they [protesters] were saying, I don't understand Hausa but those who interpreted to me said 'We have been effective and we have defeated them, they are running away. So assuming the vehicle had stopped, anything at all could have happened," he said.

The Ashanti Regional Minister made these comments when he appeared before a three-member committee instituted by the government to investigate the Ejura disturbances.

Two persons were killed and four others sustained life-threatening injuries during the protest by the youth of Ejura Sekyedumase, which was disrupted by security operatives on Tuesday, June 29.

The protesters were demonstrating the killing of Ibrahim “Kaaka” Mohammed, a social activist and member of the #FixTheCountry movement, who was beaten to death by unidentified people.

Mr. Osei-Mensah indicated that the decision by the police officers to move to the rear for the military to take the front role during the protest could have been taken after some level of discussion.

The Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Security Council bemoaned the political colouration given to the incidents during the protest.

He said that the incident inflamed passion and degenerated into a violent clash between the security officers and the youth.

Mr. Osei-Mensah, however, proposed improvement in communication between the various security agencies and the civilians.