The family of 'Kaaka Macho', a slain activist in Ejura, says a request to meet with the Acting Inspector General of Police to tell him about their concerns has become a stonewall.

On Tuesday, spokesperson for Ibrahim Mohammed's family, at a meeting with the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, said, "Since last week, we requested for an audience with the IGP to raise our concerns at the highest level.

"That request has not been replied to or accorded any respect," he stressed.

The family cited several incidences which they say makes them "lost confidence in the ability of the Police to deal with this matter fairly, diligently and with the necessary regard for its gravity."

According to the family, the police's act of omission and commission does not help unravel the truth behind the murder and get the culprit behind bars.

The activist died on admission at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) at 01:40 am on June 28, 2021, after assailants attacked his occipital area with clubs as the deceased entered his Dagomba Line family house in Ejura on June 26, 2021.

Two people were killed whilst four others sustained gunshot wounds as the youth in Ejura protested over the murder of the activist.

A committee set up to probe the Ejura disturbances that ensued following the murder of the social activist has since presented its recommendations to government.

But the family of Kaaka Macho, in calling for justice for their relative said, "Since the attack on Kaaka’s life and his subsequent death, we have continued to see a trend of laxity, intimidation, and deliberate misinformation from various persons in the Ghana Police Service."

According to them, they are "aggrieved that Police deliberately peddled misinformation that will cause the public to believe that Kaaka’s death was a case of fratricide and nothing else.

"Even though under the laws of Ghana, Baba Iddi should be considered and treated as innocent until proven guilty, certain persons have continued to create the impression that Iddi has now been found guilty. We think that is unfair; and not right at all.  

"For instance, at least one Senior Police officer, COP Tiwaa Addo Danquah, told the press that Kaaka was not killed in connection with his activism, even though the Police had barely conducted any investigation into the matter. Another individual who is head of a parliamentary committee that oversees the work of the Police was deployed to jump from media station to media station to peddle the falsehood that Baba Iddi, Kaaka’s brother, killed him." 

They say despite this, "the Police themselves had conducted no investigation into the murder. In fact, it took the youth of Ejura marching to the Chief’s palace to demand answers before the Police at Ejura were forced to even visit the scene of the crime more than 16 hours later, to pick up the two large sticks Kaaka was attacked with." 

According to the family, "when Kaaka died, and the Police were informed about it, they told the youth of Ejura and the family that they were treating Kaaka’s death as any other regular murder. This sentiment has now been strangely echoed by another Government communicator, who referred to Kaaka’s murder as “a mere death”.  

They claim that "a couple of days ago, on 10 August 2021, that the Police showed up at the scene of the crime to interview people who were there when Kaaka was attacked. 

"So, by directing the public to conclusively discount any suggestions that Kaaka’s murder was in connection with his social activism, the Police deliberately gave currency to the perception that Kaaka was killed by his brother, Iddi Mohammed. Even though they had not even done the basic investigation. So, where did that conclusion come from?" They quizzed. 

Kaaka's family say they have avoided saying anything publicly about this whole investigation because "we wanted to believe that justice will be done and that the police will take their time to do their work properly. Unfortunately, we never saw that happen!" 

However, they are worried that "The calculated attempts to misdirect the public and cause them to conclude on the guilt of our brother Iddi Mohammed, have compounded our grief, and made us lose all hope that the Police is committed to truth and justice in this case. 

Therefore, they believe, "These actions have compounded a sustained practice of disregard for the family’s welfare by the Police has made us apprehensive of their professionalism and care for due process. To date, no one in the Ghana Police Service has called the family of Kaaka to update us on the work being done to bring us justice. It is almost as if we are not humans. We have had to find out everything from the media." 

According to the family, "A couple of weeks ago, our brother and son Baba Iddi, informed us that the Police came to pick him up from his prison cell without an interpreter, and held him with force and made him thumbprint a document he doesn’t know the content of or understand. We are disgusted by the reported actions of the Police. And we are now convinced that the Police are now active criminal agents working to incriminate our brother in a crime they know, and we know, he did not commit."