Pressure is mounting on the Ghana Police Service not to be selective in its application of the laws, especially the display of firearms.
Following the arrest of Hiplife artiste, Samuel Frimpong, popularly known as Medikal, for brandishing a weapon in a video found on social media, similar pictures and videos of a Presidential Staffer; Charles Nii Teiko and Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa, alias Afia Schwarzenegger, have emerged of them wielding pistols similar to the artiste, with a call on the police to arrest them too.
The demand from members of the public, have various social media sites flooded with the pictures and videos of the two individuals who are connected to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) displaying their pistols.
Interestingly, George AkuffoDampare, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in some instances, has been tagged with images calling on him to act immediately.
The police have been very active on social media lately even by having a young man arrested for driving in a risky manner at the Opeibea traffic light on Saturday.
In the viral video, the suspect, by name Kofi, was seen driving into the middle of the four-lane road and, in a dramatic style, turned his car in circles and sped off ,before the traffic light turned green.
The vehicle, has been impounded by the Airport Police after a social media rage, but it appears the Police service is yet to see that of Presidential Staffer and Afia Schwarzeneggerand act in the same manner they did with Medikal and Shatta Wale.
While two pictures of Charles Teiko, have shown him actually shooting into the air during an event, Afia Schwarzenegger, was captured in videos swearing and threatening to use her gun. It is unclear what led to these displays.
It is not unclear again, if the two have registered their guns.
But in the case of Charles Teiko, who works in the Office of the President with no known portfolio, this is not the first time that issues about him carrying a gun have surfaced.
The erratic young men, is well known in the Achimota Mile 11 area for pulling a gun upon the least provocation.
Since the NPP came into office, there have been reports about him pulling a gun on someone he was arguing with.
Although, some of these reports were captured by The Herald, this is the first time that pictures of him have emerged pulling out a gun and shooting into the air to display his power.
An unanimous email received by The Herald on the Presidential staffer, had claimed that “at a well-attended Birthday party in Accra, this young man, who I understand is a presidential staffer by name, NiiTeiko, was at the party brandishing a loaded weapon with live bullets in the full glare of patrons at the party”.
It said that “Without any provocation, this drunk young man shot repeatedly. This new style of unprovoked shooting at events, has become part of many of these young men in power”.
“The abuse of power must stop. What is happening? This country is becoming unbearable to live in by the day. Hmmm. A whole presidential staffer paid by the taxpayer brags and fires live bullets at a public place without provocation”.
“Recently, three young men who were seen bragging with guns in a video that went viral were picked up by the police.
Just this week, a social media post of a musician with a gun went viral and he was arrested and asked to be in Jail”, adding “I can bet nothing is going to happen to this NiiTeiko boy because some are more human than others. We are not equal”.
With the appointment of George AkuffoDampare as the Inspector General of Police, the Police appears to have taken a new direction to the admiration of the many citizens who have also always expected that enforcement of law will not be selective but irrespective of the personalities, political affiliation and status the law will work.
This position has seen the likes of the Shatta Wale and Medikal busted for feigning a shooting incident and branding a gun respectively.
The two musicians have since been granted bail to the tune of GH¢100,000 with one surety, bail after five days on remand.
Medikal was remanded by a Circuit Court judge in Accra on October 22, 2021, for brandishing a weapon in a video found on social media.
He was charged with the display of arms and ammunition but pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The case has been adjourned to November 9, 2021. At the hearing on Friday, October 22, 2021, counsel for Medikal prayed the court to grant his client bail as he is a law-abiding citizen and had family on standby to meet the bail conditions.
But the prosecution opposed the plea, arguing that the individual rights of Medikal to bail are subservient to the community interest, which ought to be protected.
He further argued that parts of the case are still under investigation.
The court agreed with his argument and remanded the accused last week.
Dancehall musician, Shatta Wale who is facing a charge of publishing false news after he allegedly fabricated a story about a gun attack against him.
Interacting with the media after the hearing, Shatta Wale’s legal representative said the musician was given a self-recognizance bail.
Jerry Avenorgbo who was elated about the day’s hearing said “Shatta Wale will be able to reunite with his friends and family” as his case is still being heard.
He further divulged that the accomplices of the artiste are to provide a surety each.
His case has also been adjourned to Tuesday, November 9.