Dawenya Police Accused of Endangering Lives, Forcing Illegal Towing Fee
A group of passengers, including journalists, have accused officers of the Dawenya Divisional Police Command of endangering lives and engaging in extortion after a commercial minibus was forcibly towed with occupants still on board.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, March 28, 2026, involved a minibus travelling from Accra to Akatsi South. According to both the driver and passengers, the vehicle was part of a convoy reportedly including a military pickup attempting to navigate heavy traffic at Dawenya.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that while several vehicles within the convoy were allowed to pass, a police inspector identified as Gyan allegedly stopped the minibus despite repeated explanations from passengers that they were moving together.
Passengers say the situation escalated when the officer called in a tow truck and ordered the vehicle to be towed to the police station without first asking occupants to disembark.
This, they argue, exposed them to serious safety risks, as the fully loaded vehicle was moved under unsafe conditions.
“We were shocked. There were vulnerable people on board, yet no regard was shown for our safety,” one passenger, a journalist, recounted.
Several passengers stated they were travelling to attend a funeral and pleaded with officers to allow them to proceed. According to them, these pleas were ignored.
The vehicle was subsequently towed to the station, resulting in a delay of about two hours.
Upon arrival at the station, police reportedly demanded a towing fee of GHS 1,000 before releasing the vehicle. However, after prolonged negotiations between the driver, passengers, and officers, the amount was reduced to GHS 500.
Passengers insist the demand regardless of the reduction was unjustified, particularly given the manner in which the towing was carried out.
The passengers many of whom are journalists further alleged that the Dawenya stretch has become a hotspot for what they describe as routine extortion by some officers.
They specifically accused an officer identified as Opoku of operating an informal “motorcade” system, where drivers and passengers allegedly pay GHS 200 or more to be escorted through traffic using sirens.
“The traffic there doesn’t appear natural anymore. It feels engineered to create opportunities to extract money from road users,” one passenger claimed.
The incident has triggered calls for an immediate investigation into the conduct of the officers involved and broader operations at the Dawenya checkpoint.
Passengers argue that beyond the financial burden, towing a vehicle with passengers inside represents a dangerous breach of safety standards and a disregard for human life.
This episode adds to ongoing public concerns about policing practices on Ghana’s roads, particularly allegations of harassment and unofficial charges.
For the journalists involved, the experience highlights what they describe as a systemic problem affecting everyday commuters.
“We are not just victims in this case we are witnesses to a pattern that needs urgent attention,” one journalist said.
Report by PKB
