COVID-19 lockdown: Eyewitnesses give account of how bullet pierced through Ashaiman man’s head

COVID-19 lockdown: Eyewitnesses give account of how bullet pierced through Ashaiman man’s head

- Residents of Ashaiman have refuted claims that a truck pusher, Eric Ofotsu, who was killed by a military man tried to disarm the officer

- Two eyewitnesses who observed the incident have debunked the story of the Ghana Armed Forces

- Eric Ofotsu was ''accidentally'' shot dead on Sunday, April 5, 2020, by a military man who was detailed to enforce compliance of the partial lockdown at Ashaiman

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Residents of Ashaiman have debunked claims that a truck pusher, Eric Ofotsu, who was killed on Sunday, April 5, 2020, attempted to disarm a military officer who was charged to enforce compliance of the lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eric Ofotsu was allegedly killed by a military man who was part of a combined military and police personnel stationed at Ashaiman to ensure strict compliance of the partial lockdown imposed by President Akufo-Addo.

Parts of a statement by the military authority said that earlier reports indicated that: ''the suspect, in resisting arrest, attempted to disarm the soldier leading to a struggle during which the soldier’s rifle accidentally went off''.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) said the deceased was suspected of being involved in narcotics.

However, an eyewitness account contradicts the story of the Ghana Armed Forces.

According to theghanareport.com, two women who observed the incident told JoyNews that what the military command released contained inaccuracies.

Ofosuwaa, a family friend of the deceased, said she went to escort a friend that Sunday, April 5, 2020. While on her way back, she met the soldier who asked why she was outside.

She said her response to him was that she was going to the washroom.

READ ALSO: Chilah Harper: Lady who survived COVID-19 shares near-death experience (photo)

According to Ofosuwaa, when she came out, she saw the soldier telling Ofotsu to leave the area, but he told the soldier that he lives at the market.

''I told the soldier that Ofotsu was mentally challenged and he sleeps and works at the market by transporting goods and engaging in menial jobs,'' she narrated.

She disclosed that Ofotsu had desilted the gutters the previous day, and the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly had not even paid him.

Ofosuwaa also reveals that residents had informed the military man that Ofotsu was mentally ill but he ignored.

She sadly detailed that she saw the soldier make a call and someone at the other end of the line directed him to kill Ofotsu.

Not long after the call, Ofosuwaa said the soldier cocked his gun and they all had to ran to take cover.

Unfortunately, before they could tell, they realised that he had shot Ofotsu.

She tearfully recounted that she ran and held her brother while she called her neighbours.

''If they said Ofotsu held on to the soldier’s gun, it is a lie. He never tried to disarm the soldier. The soldier didn’t try,'' theghanareport.com quoted Ofosuwaa as saying.

Another eyewitness, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she was sitting in front of a cold store when she heard Ofotsu and the soldier exchanging words.

She said the military man hit the deceased with a stick. The deceased got angry, and he collected the stick from the soldier and dropped it.

According to the second eyewitness, after the first altercation, Ofotsu and the soldier went their separate ways.

She, however, noted that the military man made a call to an unknown person, returned and cocked his gun.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Powerful 5 relief measures from Akufo-Addo for Ghanaians amid lockdown (video)

''I thought he was going to give a warning shot.''

However, the soldier pointed the gun at the throat of the victim and shot without blinking.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman Constituency, Ernest Henry Norgbey, has said that he is determined to seek justice for the resident who was allegedly shot and killed ''accidentally''.

YEN.com.gh previously reported that the Ghana Army has stated investigating the shooting incident that occurred in Ashaiman on Sunday, April 5, 2020.

In other news, President Nana Akufo-Addo has lauded three Ghanaian students who invented handwashing devices amid the coronavirus pandemic which has claimed five lives.

The remarkable innovations of these students were featured in earlier reports by YEN.com.gh.

READ ALSO: Chilah Harper: Lady who survived COVID-19 shares near-death experience (photo)

One on one with the young Ghanaian genius Angela Tabiri who has a Ph.D. in Mathematics | #Yencomgh

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Source: YEN.com.gh

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