Sound system operators in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region are demanding the arrest and investigation of two prison officers and three inmates allegedly involved in an attack that left their colleague, Opoku Afriyie, severely injured.
The group is calling on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Minister for the Interior and national security authorities to intervene, saying more than a month after the incident, the suspects have not been arrested.
Afriyie, a sound system operator, commercial motorbike rider and farmer, was allegedly attacked with machetes by the two officers and three inmates from the Kenyasi Settlement Camp Prison over allegations of yam theft.
The operators say the absence of arrests and a public update from the Ahafo Regional Police Command has heightened frustration among residents and could deepen tensions between the community and law enforcement.
Speaking to JoyNews in Kenyasi on Tuesday, Clement Austin, a social event moderator with Emmanuel Sounds, said the suspects should be held accountable under the law.
He said the Constitution guarantees equality before the law and the protection of human rights and dignity, adding that the allegations against Afriyie did not justify the reported attack.
Mr Austin called on the police to arrest the suspects, insisting that no one should be treated as guilty without evidence and due process.
Kwame Bandasco of Great Vim Ventures warned that further delays could trigger legal action and sustained civil pressure on the Ghana Prisons Service in the district.
He said the group had been demanding arrests and justice since the incident and insisted that the two prison officers should be investigated immediately.
DJ Slim of Pomaa Sounds also questioned why no arrests had been made, arguing that a civilian accused of attacking prison officers and inmates would likely have faced swift police action.
The operators further alleged that management of the Kenyasi Settlement Camp Prison had approached traditional leaders, religious figures and politicians in the region to mediate an out-of-court settlement on behalf of the suspects.
They have cautioned those leaders against intervening to settle the matter outside the formal justice system, citing what they describe as a history of unresolved abuses involving security personnel in the district.
The group wants the police to investigate the incident and allow the legal process to proceed, saying accountability is necessary to restore confidence and prevent further tensions.
The allegations against the prison officers and inmates have not been established in court. The group’s account of the incident and the alleged attempts at mediation could not be independently verified from the information available.
Afriyie, who is recovering slowly at home, says the injuries have left him unable to work and provide for his family.
In an interview with JoyNews, he said he now relies on the support of neighbours and loved ones to care for his wife, children and 80-year-old mother.
The father and farmer, who owns three farms, said the attack had disrupted his livelihood and left his family struggling to meet their daily needs.
The operators say they will continue pressing the authorities to act until the case is investigated and justice is pursued through the formal legal system.