An audio recording from one Dr Patrick Asiedu accusing some police officers of planting substances suspected to be narcotics in his vehicle has surfaced on social media.
Dr Asiedu reported that the incident occurred last week Friday while on the Trasacco road while on his way home to Kwashieman.
“I met these policemen on the road and they asked me to pull over. I did and when they came, they asked that I get down from the car to search me. I was not comfortable with it but because I felt they were doing their work, I got down.
They searched the car. In a few seconds, one of the policemen called me and told me he could see I had my tag and I am a doctor. If that is the case then do we have any problem with you but what is this weed doing in your car. I was like ‘what do you mean?’ He said look under your seat. What is this weed and cocaine doing over there? I was like cocaine and weed in my car?”
He allegedly told them “I have no idea what they are doing in my car,” but according to Dr Asiedu, the police officers insisted the substances were his.
In his narration, the health professional further claimed that the police requested a bribe of GHS20,000 to avoid being sent to the police station and the Narcotics Control Commission.
“You can spend 15 years in jail so pay GHS20,000,” he claimed the police said while being directed to hold the suspected narcotics.
Dr Patrick Asiedu said he phoned his brother at the Ghana Armed Forces who arrived at the scene with a number of military men.
Per the audio, the parties involved proceeded to the police station and were later directed to head to the Narcotics Control Commission, but they were called by one Commander to engage at a location Dr Asiedu failed to mention.
After their meeting hitting a snug, Dr Asiedu said he headed to the Narcotics Control Commission where his fingerprint was scanned.
“When they checked my fingerprint, they didn’t find any trace and my brother told the police to tell the truth,” he said.
“One of the officers, who is a Muslim swore that he could never plant drugs in a car. Then another officer started crying, saying that we are very sorry. We planted it in his car,” Dr Asiedu added.
Dr Asiedu further alleged that one Commander offered money to bury the issue, but was slapped by his brother, an action that led to a fisticuff.
The said police officers, he said, were arrested by the military officers who arrived with his brother, and were sent to the East Legon Police Station but later transferred to the Accra Central Police Station.
The audio has garnered massive reactions on social media platforms. While some Ghanaians have corroborated the claims made by Dr Asiedu by sharing their own experiences, others have questioned the validity of his claims.
In a press statement on January 18, addressing the allegation, the Ghana Police Service announced that it has launched investigations into the matter.
The Service noted its initial checks provided information contrary to the claims made by Dr Asiedu. The Police stated that it found no complaint at the East Legon and the Accra Central Police Stations mentioned in the audio.
Also, the Police said it contacted the Narcotics Control Commission and the Ghana Armed Forces and both institutions have indicated that “no such incident has come to their attention.”
However, the Service has assured that it will get to the bottom of the alleged incident as it “does not condone any unprofessional conduct in its quest to become an institution worthy of respect and trust in the country.”
Read the full statement below
