A True Salute To Assin North District Police Command

At this critical juncture, it is only fitting to sing the praises of the Ghana Police Service, particularly the Assin North District Police Command, led by the District Commander Superintendent Eric Yao Avudzivi, for their yeoman’s job in the search and recovery of a 35-year-old galamsey operator, Alex Missiso Kudzo, father of four, who tragically drowned in the Pra River.

For three relentless days, the police braved the odds, weathering rain and shine, tirelessly combing the murky waters in hopes of bringing closure to a distraught community.

Their commitment was nothing short of heroic, especially considering the twists and turns that marked the operation.

In a rather jaw-dropping twist, illegal miners who are also divers from Breman demanded a staggering GH¢30,000 before even dipping a toe into the river.

After tense negotiations, the amount was whittled down to GH¢20,000. Shockingly, despite collecting the money, they failed to retrieve the body that day.

The police, undaunted and with hearts of steel, turned to another group of divers at Praho-Larteh.

These divers, too, demanded GH¢20,000 upfront, showing little empathy for the tragic circumstances.

When they eventually located the body on the third day, they allegedly held it hostage underwater, demanding an additional

GH¢5,000 to retrieve it or else, they warned, the decomposing corpse would be left to the river gods.

In a heartbreaking moment, the police had to literally go on their knees, pleading for the body to be released.

What a sickening irony that those who watched their colleague drown now turned his death into a business opportunity.

Even more baffling is the fact that the deceased drowned right before the eyes of these illegal miners, when their “chanfan” machine — overloaded with sand in their reckless effort to expand the river banks sank.

While most of them swam to safety, the unfortunate victim didn’t live to tell the tale.

Rather than halt operations or raise an alarm, these miners callously returned to digging for gold, leaving their colleague to die behind as if he were a mere twig swept away by the current.

It wasn’t until police got wind of the incident that any serious search was initiated with NADMO joining forces.

When the body was finally retrieved, the police had to endure the overpowering stench of advanced decomposition, a nauseating test of strength and duty as they are sometimes forced to handle the situation without wearing protective gear.

Yet, they braved it with stoic professionalism, carefully transporting the remains to the mortuary for preservation.

The entire episode paints a chilling picture of greed over human life, but it also casts a shining light on the professionalism, patience, and perseverance of the Assin North Police Command.

Indeed, when duty calls, true heroes rise.

Shadrack Owusu Asante, Rich FM/Angel FM Assin Fosu. 0542466653. Reporter

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