On the 2nd March 2011, one Kwadwo Owiredu and Kwesi Amankwaa both residents of Samreboi in the western region lodged a verbal petition to the Inspector General of Police that a certain policeman named Frimpong shot and wounded their brother one Stephen Arthur at Bawjiase without any justifiable cause.
The matter was referred to PIPS for investigation. PIPS Obtained a statement from the petitioners and traveled to Bawjiase and Agona Swedru all in the Central Region same day to investigate the allegation.
At Bawjiase, the station officer chief inspector Elizabeth Mensah confirmed that her station is investigating the shooting of Stephen Arthur by No.40675 G/Const. Stephen Frimpong stationed at Agona Swedru.
She said that the incident happened on 4th January 2011. The case officer Detective Inspector Raymond Addae Duodu handed to PIPS a duplicate copy of the case docket for necessary action.
At Agona Swedru District Police Headquarters, PIPS conferred with Supt. Philip Aleawobu on the matter. The senior officer stated that he had submitted a comprehensive report regarding the incident to the Divisional Commander. He hinted that No.40675 inquiry some few minutes before PIPS arrival.
DETAILS OF THE SHOOTING
On 4th January 2011 at about 9.00pm whilst on duty, the complainant arrived at the checkpoint in his saloon car with four other occupants namely Stephen Arthur 19, Francis Ofosu 20, Nana Botwe 24, and Ethan.
At the checkpoint, Percy Abgbenyenu after a routine check of the car allowed the complainant to cross but suddenly, Constable Charles Nantomah refused to allow him to go and ordered him to stop. But Stephen and his friends moved the vehicle because Percy Abgbenyenu who did the check insisted they move.
Immediately they moved, No.40675 Const. Stephen Frimpong who was armed with AK. 47 riffle butt.No.7666 with ten rounds of ammunition came from nowhere and fired at the car through the rear windscreen. He followed with two( 2) more shots via the same route. Stephen Arthur sustained gunshot wound from the back which penetrated through the stomach.
STEPHEN ARTHUR AFTER BEING SHOTLIFE AFTER STEPHEN ARTHUR WAS SHOTÂ
Stephen Arthur after he was shot on the 4th January 2012 has been paralyzed for the past 6 years because of the gunshot to his spine. He has lost the use of his body parts below his waist.
STEPHEN HAS LOST THE USE OF HIS LEGSHe has been at the Police Hospital for the past 6 years without the use of his legs. Meanwhile, the Police administration has given dead ear to his calls for help.
The victim, Stephen, through the help of some benevolent people was able to talk to some high profile persons in the police administration including Former IGP, Mohammed Alhassan and  Mr.Bright Oduro who is currently the director of CID. But they didn’t give him the help he needed let alone the justice he deserves.
STEPHEN ARTHUR AT THE HOSPITALA PHILANTHROPIST’S REQUEST
In all the suffering and agony amidst rejection from the police, Stephen Arthur’s cry for help got to the ears of a philanthropist, Mrs. Benson.
She flew all the way from the United Kingdom to listen to the story of Stephen Arthur. After narrating his woes to Mrs. Benson, the good woman requested to take Stephen to the UK to provide him with the medical help he needed so badly.
BUT, The Ghana Police administration rejected her help with the excuse that being flown outside the country will send a bad image about the Ghana Police Service to the outside world. The administration rejected her help with all their might and with no option, Mrs. Benson returned to the UK.
Speaking to Mrs. Benson after she went back, she confirmed to sending money to the Lawyer of Stephen Arthur (Name With Held For Now) to secure him with a car to help him move around.
But an investigation by the editor showed the lawyer squandered the money and gave Stephen his old Golf 5 car to use.
Stephen Arthur urgently needs the help of the good people of Ghana to enable him to get the necessary treatment.
CONTACT THE REPORTER ON THE CASE
Kwabena Agyekum Banahene
Investigative journalist, Rainbow Radio.
Telephone: +233547675522
