The Eastern Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has initiated background checks on police officers in the Region barely two days after two officers were busted for allegedly engaging in a robbery incident.

Eastern Regional Minister, Mavis Frimpong, told Joy News the objective of the checks is to afford the Eastern Regional Police Command the opportunity to flash out personnel who have past criminal record.

“We are still going to beef up security to ensure that lives and property are not destroyed and we are going to check the background of existing security personnel and check if there are other people involved,” she said.

Tuesday's incident in which two police officers and a civilian allegedly robbed a GCB bank Bullion van has generated much tension in the region.

Things took another turn after the two officers; Corporal Elvis Solomon Mensah (N39482) and Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa (N44912) bolted when they were being transported to the regional police headquarters at Koforidua.

They were alleged to have requested to visit the urinal after the police van transporting them stopped to refuel at a filling station at Nkawkaw. One of them shoved the police officer escorting them and bolted.

Consequently, a mass gathering of the Donkorkrom youth went to the police station demanding answers from the police to explain why they allowed the culprits to escape.

Things escalated on Thursday when there was a clash between the residents and the police resulting in more than 20 residents getting injured after the police shot into the crowd.

The two police officers were later re-arrested Thursday afternoon and transported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Accra.

Mrs Frimpong wondered why the police would fire live bullet into a crowd because of some misunderstanding regarding the incident.

She explained that the moment they got information about the incident, a contingent of 32 regional police officers were dispatched to the community to maintain peace.

“We have decided to maintain law and order and would also want to preserve further damage to lives and property hence the reinforcement,” she said.

She also said the Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, led a team of police officers to the community to get first hand information of what happened. 

Meanwhile, the Director of Police CID, COP Prosper Kwame Agblor confirmed at a news conference that the two men are in their custody in Accra.

He has entreated the media and well-meaning Ghanaians to help the police investigate the issue and put it to rest.