Security analyst Dr Adam Bona has called on the John Mahama administration to revisit and take action against a police officer who assaulted a fellow officer at the Jubilee House in January 2017, during the early days of the Akufo-Addo presidency.

The incident involved DSP Nanka Bruce, then Director in charge of VVIP at the Flagstaff House, who was assaulted by ASP Jalil Bawa. Surveillance footage of the assault went viral on social media.

The matter was initially brought to Parliament by the then Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak. However, the investigation seemed to lose traction, with the Attorney General’s Department at the time appearing disinterested in prosecuting the suspect.

“Mr Speaker, I am aware of a report made by one DSP Nanka Bruce, Director in charge of the VVIP at the Flagstaff House, on 9th January 2017, in which he reported an assault on him by an ex-policeman named Jalil Bawa and one Abu. The matter is currently under investigation by the Police CID, and efforts are being made to arrest the suspects,” Ras Mubarak said in Parliament at the time.

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV on Monday, 6th January 2024, Dr Bona criticised the failure of the state to punish ASP Jalil, stating that this has emboldened him to act with impunity.

“I expect the Mahama government to deal with the hoodlums who took over and assaulted other people at the Jubilee House. Someone like ASP Jalil accosted a police officer, DSP Nanka Bruce, at the Jubilee House, beat him mercilessly, and even went to his home to attack him again. This happened under the so-called human rights activist president, yet no one took action. This ASP remains in uniform, and it is unacceptable,” Dr Bona stated.

At the time of the incident, ASP Jalil Bawa had been dismissed from the Ghana Police Service. He had joined the NPP’s private security group, popularly known as the Invisible Forces. Following the party’s victory in 2016, he was reinstated by the Akufo-Addo government and given a special recommendation to attend the Police Academy, where he became an officer.