The families of the two farmers - Mustapha and Haruna Ibrahim - killed at Aberewa Nko, near Agogo in the Ashanti Akim District of the Ashanti Region, have accused the Agogo Police of demanding GH₵1,600 from them before releasing the bodies for burial.
A family member of one of the deceased, Ofa Yaw Kramo said they went to the Agogo Police for permit to enable them get the bodies of their loved ones for burial, according to the Islamic tradition, but the police insisted each family deposits GH₵800 before they sign a permit letter for them to be sent to the Agogo Hospital for the bodies to be released to them for burial.
However, the Agogo Police Commander, ASP Asamoah Agyekum, said the investigator on the case mentioned the amount as possible cost of post-mortem to the families when they demanded the release of the bodies for burial.
According to him, the fact that the investigator mentioned the amount does not mean that the families are to pay for it.
He explained that the police did not grant the permit for the bodies to be released because autopsy has not been conducted.
ASP Agyekum was hopeful the autopsy would be conducted today to pave the way for the police to grant permission for the bodies to be released to the families.
The Ashanti Region Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), ASP Mohammed Tanko, denied the allegation made by the family of the deceased.
According to ASP Tanko, his interaction with the Police Commander suggests the allegation is far from the truth.
He stated that if there is going to be any cost, it would be the cost of post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death, and explained that the district assembly usually bears the cost of post-mortem.
The bodies are currently at Agogo government hospital mortuary.
On Friday, February 26, 2016, two men - Mustapha and Haruna Ibrahim - were shot dead by persons suspected to be Fulani herdsmen at Aberewa Nko, near Agogo in the Ashanti Region.
The two men were said to have been killed on their farm while they were cutting firewood for charcoal burning.
A third person, whose name was given as Agya Mensah, who had gone to fetch the two deceased narrated the incident to the family, who also reported the case to the Agogo Police.
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