OccupyGhana, a social and political non-partisan pressure group, have expressed horror at the videos of a woman being brutally harassed by a policeman because she refused to leave a banking hall.
The bank has been identified as Midland savings and loans, Shiashi branch.
In a press statement released by the pressure group, they expressed their contentment at the swift response of the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Bar Association
OccupyGhana expects blame to be extended to Midland Savings and Loans as it is their duty to ensure the safety of their customers, albeit they were not directly involved in harming the woman in the video.
Per the statement, “It appears the lady was assaulted as a result of an instruction by the Company’s officers to the offending police officer to remove her from the premises. Then they either stood by while she was subjected to the beatings or only made half-hearted attempts to stop it. That suggests that the Company and its officers, at the very least, instigated, facilitated, encouraged or promoted the policeman’s offences.”
In this regard, the woman should be adequately compensated by the company while investigating the financial capability of Midland savings and loans on account of their inability to refund the customer’s purported less than GHS300.
“We believe that the Company owes a duty of care to the lady and all those who visit those premises, whether invited or permitted, to ensure their safety while on the premises. Thus even if the Company was not directly involved in the harm caused to the lady, it should be liable to compensate her for the harm caused to her while on its premises,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the action of the policeman should also instigate an investigation into police brutality and the role of the other bank officers seen in the video and how their actions or inactions could have contributed to the grotesque assault on the woman.
OccupyGhana continues to exist as a watch-dog to hold all structures of society accountable for their actions.
Read the full statement below
OCCUPYGHANA® CONDEMNS ASSAULT OF WOMAN BY POLICE AT MIDLAND SAVINGS AND LOANS COMPANY PREMISES
OccupyGhana®, like several Ghanaians, is horrified at the videos showing the senseless assault and battering of a woman simply on account of her alleged refusal to leave a banking hall, insisting on being paid her money.
We are gratified to read the statements issued by the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Bar Association on the matter, and we do not intend to repeat any of the matters they have stated.
We would, however, add other comments and observations on the matter, particularly on the role of the Midland Savings and Loans Company and its officers.
First, the Company, as the occupier of the property where the harm was caused to the lady, should not escape blame and sanctions. We believe that the Company owes a duty of care to the lady and all those who visit those premises, whether invited or permitted, to ensure their safety while on the premises. Thus even if the Company was not directly involved in the harm caused to the lady, it should be liable to compensate her for the harm caused to her while on its premises.
Second, and worse, it appears the lady was assaulted as a result of an instruction by the Company’s officers to the offending police officer to remove her from the premises. Then they either stood by while she was subjected to the beatings or only made half-hearted attempts to stop it. That suggests that the Company and its officers, at the very least, instigated, facilitated, encouraged or promoted the policeman’s offences. Without meaning to show the police how to do its work, we believe that the ongoing criminal investigations should also explore bringing abetment of crime charges against the Company and its officers.
Third, we are concerned that the underlying cause of this matter was the failure or refusal of the Company to return to a depositor, funds to which she was legitimately entitled. In the wake of the recent administrative and other actions and sanctions taken against banks and deposit-taking entities by the Bank of Ghana, involving the possible endangering and misuse of depositor-funds, we are extremely worried that the Company was unable to refund to a depositor, an amount that was less than GHS300. We believe that the Bank of Ghana ought to investigate the circumstances surrounding this. Maybe this criminal beating of the lady, masks or portends some financial danger where that Company is concerned.
Fourth, and as a general comment, we wonder whether poor Ghanaians are still being subjected to such gross human rights abuses by law enforcement agencies. It is important that servants of the state who are provided with the force of arms that are supplied with our tax monies primarily for our protection are continuously trained in the rudiments of respecting the human rights of the citizen.
Ghana is not and cannot be allowed to be a lawless nation.
Yours in service of God and Country.
OccupyGhana®
Source: OCCUPYGHANA
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Ghanaians are very lazy and don't want an alternative anything. I work in a financial institution in a developed country. In order now to disappoint our customers, there is always a plan B in case there is a power outrage. How much more Ghana which have been facing electricity problems? it is time for managers in Ghana to use their common***barred word*** to manage and not sit in big cars.
Midland S&L is insolvent. The poor lady has been chasing 250 GhC for four days. Mr. Addison, please crack the whip. I implore anyone with savings at midland to go for it pronto because l smell a DKM is about to happen.
This is the Hour and moment of Truth. When you throw a Stone to the Wall, it comes back to hit you. I blame this unprofessional Policing on NDC and NPP Politicians. Who used their so-called unholy Protocol to push their uncivilized and uneducated Foot-Soldiers To Public Institutions like the: Military, Police, Fire Service, Immigration Customs etc, etc. I think the best solution is, all this Service personnel need to go back to Training. To learn everything all over again, to avoid future calamity like this. If not, the worse and unexpected is yet to come. Mark my word.
Who in the Bank authorised the Policeman to drive the woman away. I don't the Policeman on his own could enter the banking hall and drive away the woman. The Policeman's action is barbaric, unprofessional, disrespectful especially to an unarmed woman who was carrying a baby. Were there no senior officials in the bank? I think heads should roll in the bank as well. Will they be pleased if their sister, wife or mother was treated this way? I am very angry as I write this piece. The Police Service should speed up this enquiry and let the public know because some of us are interested in the outcome. I have my own reservation about these Savings and Loans Companies all over the place. Do they train their staff in customer care at all? I have had a terrible experience with one of them and the lady acted in a very rude manner as if I owe her. I did not spare at all and I really created a scene. Maybe that's the language they understand better. Quite recently one of these loans company actually kidnapped some one's children because their mother owe them