A protest on Tuesday by commercial transport drivers at Ashaiman, about 20 kilometres east of Accra, against police “harassment” and detention of their members for breaking traffic laws has claimed at least two lives. The victims were killed by stray bullets when police clashed with the drivers wh o had blocked the main road in the town, attacked the police station, burned lorry tyres and threw stones at the security officers who responded by firing tear gas and live and rubber bullets. One of the dead is a young boy, police said. Many people, including police officers, were injured. The confusion started when police in the town arrested a number of commercial drivers who had refused to park within a parking lot provided for them but rather parked by the roadside, thus causing traffic jam. The drivers started the protest to demand the release of their colleagues who had been arrested by the police. The drivers, joined by a mob, threatened to burn down the police station. The Tema Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) John Kudalor, defended the action of the police saying they acted to defend themselves and control the situation.
