#FixTheCountry Movement has said that it has donated some food items which was meant for inmates at the Ashiaman Police Station but was rejected by the police to inmates at the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Coast.
According to the leader of the group, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, after his release from the Ashiaman Police Station in March this year, he decided to donate some food items to his fellow inmates due to the poor condition he saw them going through whiles on his few stay at the cells but, the police rejected it because according to them, it was against safety and protocols outlined in line with the feeding of inmates.
However, Barker Vormawor said they were left with no option than to partner with the Professional Association of Psychiatric Nurses-Ghana to donate the items to the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital.
The items according to the group which was worth over GHC10,000 includes flour, bags of rice, cooking oil, first aid medication, milk, toiletries, drinks amongst others.
“In view of the refusal of the Ghana Police Service to accept the donation, #FixTheCountry partnered with the Professional Association of Psychiatric Nurses-Ghana to make the donations to the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital. Our descision to donate to the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital forms part of the interest of #FixtheCountry and the Professional Association of Psychiatric Nurses-Ghana to draw attention to the need of Ghanaians to take Mental Health seriously, and to encourage puplic philanthropy towards supporting Mental Health institution in Ghana”, #FixTheCountry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, in a post by Oliver, leader of the group, he alleged that whiles in cells at the Ashiaman Police Station, an inmate died due to starvation by the police.
“I am sad to report that an inmate at the Ashiaman Police Station has passed away. Ebenezer Dosu was arrested by a police officer who was extorting money from him. The police officer arrested and kept Ebenezer from evening 6pm till 11pm; and when he could not pay the money he was demanding, he went to lock him up at 11:30pm. As the police normally do when they are extorting money, no official entries were made and he was locked up without due process.
Ebenzer complained of hunger and stomach ache throughout the night and was ignored.
“He died the next morning. The arresting officer and the Counter NCO who was on duty have been recommended for interdiction”, he wrote.