A commercial motorbike rider, Opoku Afriyie, is fighting for his life at the Asutifi North District Hospital in Ghana after being allegedly attacked with machetes by prison officers and inmates from the Kenyasi Settlement Camp Prison. The incident occurred on Thursday in the Ahafo Region. Afriyie, a resident of Kenyasi No. 2, was carrying a passenger on his motorbike when the attack happened. He was accused of stealing yams from a prison officer's farm.
According to Afriyie, a prison officer and three inmates intercepted him along the way and attacked him with machetes, inflicting deep wounds on his arms, legs, abdomen, neck, and other parts of his body. The injuries have left him in severe pain, affecting his abdomen, head, eyes, and waist. Some of his fingers and hands were also badly hurt in the assault. Afriyie, who also works as a sound system operator, is currently in serious condition at the hospital.
What happened immediately after the attack has raised concerns. Afriyie alleges that a second prison officer arrived at the scene, handcuffed him, and took him not to a hospital but to the Kenyasi Settlement Camp Prison itself. There, he claims, the second officer slapped him repeatedly before he was eventually handed over to the Kenyasi Police. It was only after police officers saw the extent of his wounds that arrangements were reportedly made to send him to the Asutifi North District Hospital.
Afriyie has voiced frustration that, as of the report, none of the officers or inmates he accuses of attacking him had been arrested. He is appealing to authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and hold those responsible to account. He has also asked the public for financial support to help cover his medical bills. The case echoes concerns raised in other recent incidents involving alleged abuse of power by state security personnel against civilians in Ghana.
The allegations raise pointed questions about the conduct of prison officers stationed at the Kenyasi Settlement Camp Prison, a facility whose staff and inmates are meant to operate under strict institutional discipline. If the allegations are confirmed, the incident would suggest a serious breakdown in that discipline, with a civilian allegedly denied prompt medical attention after a violent assault and instead detained at the very facility linked to his attackers.
The Asutifi District Police Command, led by Superintendent Harold Yamoah Ponkor, has opened an investigation into the incident. No arrests had been announced at the time of reporting, and police say further details will be released as the investigation progresses. The incident has fuelled public debate over how officers attached to state institutions treat ordinary citizens outside the scope of their official duties.
The case has sparked widespread concern, with many calling for accountability and swift action against those responsible. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for state security personnel to respect the rights of civilians and adhere to institutional discipline. An investigation is ongoing, and the public is awaiting updates on the progress of the case and any potential charges that may be filed.
Key points
- A commercial motorbike rider was seriously injured in an alleged machete attack by prison officers and inmates in Ghana's Ahafo Region.
- The incident has raised concerns about the conduct of prison officers and the abuse of power by state security personnel against civilians.
- An investigation is ongoing, and the public is awaiting updates on the progress of the case and any potential charges that may be filed.
