Oliver Vormawor Accuses Police Of Neglecting Health Needs Of Detainees

In a recent Facebook post by Oliver Barker Vormawor, a lead convenor of the Democracy Hub group, significant allegations have been raised concerning the treatment of protestors by the Ghana Police Service. Barker Vormawor, currently in police custody following the violence at the “Stop Galamsey” protests, provided a detailed account of the events surrounding his medical treatment after his arrest.

According to Barker Vormawor, the police transported him to the hospital for medical care but did not cover the cost of his medications or blood tests. He alleged that on the first day of his hospitalization, released protestors who came to visit him were harassed by the police when they refused to pay for the medications prescribed to him. Eventually, Barker Vormawor’s brother gave a CID officer GHC 100 to cover part of the cost. However, the remaining prescribed medications and blood tests were left unpaid.

When news broke regarding the police’s failure to cover the medical expenses, Barker Vormawor claims that the police later reimbursed his brother’s payment through a mobile money (Momo) transaction to Priscilla, one of the released protestors. He mentioned that he is willing to share the receipt of the Momo transaction to support this claim. Despite the partial reimbursement, Barker Vormawor asserts that he was returned to his cell without receiving the full medication prescribed, which, he argues, highlights systemic issues within the police force’s treatment of suspects.

On the following day, Barker Vormawor reports being accosted by a CID officer, who shouted profanities at him, accusing him of making the police’s failure to procure his medications public. Although the police eventually paid for part of his medication, this occurred only after the public disclosure, not during the initial visit.

Barker Vormawor further claimed that his experience is not isolated, emphasizing that it reflects a routine pattern of police behavior. He recounted another recent incident in which he sent relatives to purchase medications for an inmate who had been left untreated for over a month despite being ill. He argued that the systemic nature of these issues extends beyond his case, alleging that suspects are often taken to the hospital after prolonged periods of neglect, only to be returned to their cells without receiving necessary medical treatment.

He expressed frustration over what he perceives as the Ghana Police Service’s attempt to deflect attention from these systemic issues, accusing them of engaging in public relations tactics to mask the routine neglect of detainees’ healthcare needs. In his post, Barker Vormawor also recounted a recent altercation with the police regarding an individual who had been held in custody for two weeks without being brought to court. He alleged that the CID officer, identified as Abada, insisted the detainee should confess before being taken to court, reflecting what he describes as a broader pattern of abuse within the criminal justice system.

Barker Vormawor concluded his post with a sharp critique, questioning whether Ghanaians genuinely care about these systemic abuses and urging people to look beyond the Ghana Police Service’s public statements. His post has sparked debate on social media, with many users expressing concern over the treatment of detainees and the state of healthcare provision within police custody.

These allegations, if substantiated, raise critical questions about the protocols and standards of care provided to detainees in Ghana, shedding light on the broader systemic issues that may exist within the Ghana Police Service.

The Ghana Police Service is yet to respond directly to the specific allegations made in Barker Vormawor’s post, although they have previously issued press statements concerning his detention and the protests.

As this issue develops, many will be watching closely to see how the Ghana Police Service addresses the broader concerns raised regarding the treatment of detainees and their access to healthcare.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com