Police pays GH¢42,000 as compensation
Madam Dorothy Afriyie-Ansah, Chief State Attorney, on Monday informed the Judgement Debt Commission that compensation of GH¢42,000.00 was duly paid to the parents of the late Stephen Adanumah who was killed by a police officer.
She said the money was paid by the state to the parents through Seth Agyei Yeboah, a brother of the deceased.
The State Attorney produced him (Yeboah) and Mrs Rosemond Adanumah (Mother of the deceased) before the Commission and both confirmed the money was paid.
The late Adanumah, a level 300 student of the Central University College, was shot and killed by Corporal Felix Asante of the Ghana Police Service in Accra on December 11, 2008. Cpl Asante was dismissed on October 4, 2010.
Madam Afriyie-Ansah appeared before the Commission in the matter of payment of GH¢42,000.00 to the family of the late Adanumah.
She said by the notice of intention to pursue legal action against the state received from Mr John Adanumah and Mrs Rosemond Adanumah (parents of late Stephen Adanumah) through Totoe law firm, the Attorney General wrote to the Police Service for their response on the matter.
The Chief State Attorney said the Police admitted wrongful shooting on the part of police led to the death of Adanumah and the Police had shown good faith by contributing to the funeral and care of the family.
Madam Afriyie-Ansah noted that based on this the state opted for an out of court settlement.
Mr Dometi Kofi Sokpor, Counsel for the Commission, wanted to know the breakdown for the compensation payment of GH¢42,000.0.
Madam Afriyie-Ansah explained that GH¢1,000.00 was for the pain and suffering (mental stress) suffered by the family, GH¢36,000.00 for the loss of a prospective dependent, GH¢2,000.00 for loss of expectancy of life and GH¢3,000.00 for funeral expenses.
She said receipts were not on file on the funeral expenses but at the time of making the claims the Adanumah produced receipts to that effect.
Mr Justice Yaw Appau, Sole Commissioner asked why payment was made directly to the statutory representative and not through the law firm, and why the bank’s name was not given but only the account number.
Madam Afriyie-Ansah stated that the statutory letter from the family indicated that after paying the law firm, they refused to do the follow up and that caused family to stop dealing with them.
She said the Attorney General did write to Totoe to ascertain the truth but the firm failed to respond and based on that they went ahead to effect payment.
She said as to why the name of the bank was not given, it was the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to do due diligence.
Madam Afriyie-Ansah was accompanied by Mrs Pearl Anna Akiwumi Siriboe, the State Attorney who handled the case.
The Commission adjourned sitting to Monday, August 19.
Source: GNA