Families, friends and sympathizers of the late Jerry Kpesenu, popularly known as Maya, have paid their last respects to him as he was laid to rest.
The sympathisers clad in red and black, largely made up of the concerned youths of Keta mourned their deceased colleague at the funeral, held at Bishop Herman Basic school, at Nolivome.
The late Jerry Kpesenu, a 45-year-old landlord, allegedly died in police custody after being brutally assaulted by officers from the Keta Police Division, in the year 2024.
Mr. Agbedanu Johnson, a member of the Concerned Youth Association of Keta, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said that the late Maya, would be remembered for his vibrant spirit and contributions to the local community.
He accused the Keta Police of using excessive force and assault on Mr. Kpesenu and brutalised him to death even after being taken into custody, while officers involved had not been held accountable, with the incident fuelling public anger and demand for justice.
“I know Jerry very well; he is a law-abiding citizen and does not deserve such brutality from the police, which eventually took his life. We are seeking for justice and accountability for his death,” he said.
Madam Gloria Fuxoxo and other youths of Keta have also vowed to continue pushing and demanding for justice until the Inspector General of Police (IGP) COP Christian Teteh Yohunu takes immediate action to interdict the officers involved and ensure a transparent investigation is conducted.
She added: “According to an eyewitness account, Mr. Kpesenu’s confrontation with the police began when a tenant complained about the installation of an air conditioner; the situation escalated, resulting in Kpesenu being intimidated, maltreated, and beaten with electrical cables by the officers.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana News Agency has learned that the late Kpesenu was allegedly tortured after been arrested by the Keta Police on Thursday, June 6,2024, after a complaint was leveled against him for ceasing tools belonging to an electrician who only visited his premise to fix air-condition in one of his tenant’s room.
It was also revealed that the said tenant could not inform the deceased landlord about the intention to install the machine in the room and later filed complaint at the Keta Police Station which resulted in the arrest of Kpesenu.
Later, the youth found out that the deceased was pronounced dead in the custody of the police, which sparked public outcry for justice.
They later organised ac demonstration in protest of the alleged killing of their colleague and poured their grievances against what they described as a brutal assault.
They further accused the leadership of Ghana Police of inability to interdict the officers who were involved in such killing.
The GNA has learned also, that, Mr. Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey the Member of Parliament (MP) for Keta, has also petitioned the then Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Ministry of Interior to interdict the officers involved and conduct a thorough investigation.
Mr. Gakpey also demanded that an independent autopsy at a reputable pathology center in Ghana to determine the cause of Kpesenu’s death.
The incident of Kpesenu’s death has sparked a broader conversation about police brutality and the need for accountability within the Ghana Police Service while other were demanding for reforms to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
The youth believed that his death would not be in vain and that it would lead to meaningful changes in the way the police operate.
The police have yet to officially comment on the issue.
GNA
