STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN THE MEDIA (ASWIM), IN REACTION TO THE ASSAULT ON THE FEMALE CLIENT OF THE MIDLAND SAVINGS AND LOANS BANK

The Association of Women in the Media (ASWIM) has sighted the video which has gone viral on social media platforms showing the barbaric assault on a woman who had reportedly gone to the Midland Savings and Loans banking hall to withdraw money she had lodged there.
The reports indicated that she had been asked to leave the bank and return the following day but she refused because she said she needed her money badly to provide for her family.
It is surprising she would be assaulted by a peace officer when all she demanded was to withdraw her money from the bank.
Besides once she was already in the banking hall it was imperative that she would be served.
Even more heart-rending is the fact that such an inhuman act could occur in a public place in the full glare of workers of the bank.
The association is highly abhorred by the action of the policeman who arrogated unlawful powers to himself by virtue of his uniform to abuse the poor and vulnerable woman regardless of the fact that she had done nothing wrong.
It is also unbelievable that the bank would allow a poor powerless woman to be treated in such a brutal manner if she was only there to withdraw her money.
Indeed, anyone who has watched this video should be very worried about what the Ghanaian society is turning into.
Questions we find very difficult to answer is why nobody, workers of the bank in the banking hall did not go to the rescue of a woman with a baby in her arms.
Unfortunately, when someone decided to intervene, he took the baby from her arms and left her in the hands of the policeman to continue with the assault.
Although we acknowledge  the statement issued by the police immediately in reaction to the behaviour of the police official we demand that investigations into the matter should be made public and dealt with swiftly so that the officer would be made to face the full rigors of the law as justice delayed is justice denied.
This incident and others which have happened in the recent past involving police officials clearly indicate the need for men and women of the Police Service to be constantly educated to understand their role as peace officers and not bullies by virtue of their  profession.
Let this not be another matter that causes mere public condemnation but one that would ensure that the justice system would play a key role and punish one who is found culpable.
We also call on all women’s groups to speak out loudly and clearly and fight for the rights of the helpless woman.
Signed 
Mrs. Mavis Kitcher,
Interim President, 
Association of Women In The Media, (AWSIM).

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