Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo has condemned the recent killing of an unarmed African American, George Floyd, in the US.
Floyd’s death has sparked a nationwide protest in America, resulting in destruction of properties and a clash with the police.
In a Facebook post, the Ghanaian leader wrote:
“Black people, the world over, are shocked and distraught by the killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, by a white police officer in the United States of America. It carried with it an all too painful familiarity, and an ugly reminder. It cannot be right that, in the 21st century, the United States, this great bastion of democracy, continues to grapple with the problem of systemic racism.
“On behalf of the people of Ghana, I express my deep condolences to the family and loved ones of the late George Floyd.
“We stand with our kith and kin in America in these difficult and trying times, and we hope that the unfortunate, tragic death of George Floyd will inspire a lasting change in how America confronts head on the problems of hate and racism.”
Videos of the incident that was filmed by bystanders and shared on social media, however, vividly describes how the deceased was arrested and what led to him suffering the “medical distress.”
In the video, the white officer, identified as Derek Chauvin, can be seen with his knees firmly placed on Floyd’s neck, despite the victim pleading that he cannot breathe.
“Please, please, please, I can’t breathe,” Floyd can be heard pleading. “My stomach hurts. My neck hurts. Please, please. I can’t breathe.”
Bystanders can also be heard urging the officer to remove his knees from the victim’s neck but he ignored.
“He’s not even resisting arrest right now, bro. You’re f*cking stopping his breathing right now, you think that’s cool?” a man asked the officer, with another woman saying: “His nose is bleeding. Look at his nose!”
After Floyd became unresponsive, the officer still kept his knee pinned on his neck despite continued concerns from onlookers. The officers were even asked to check his pulse but ignored until paramedics arrived and transported him for treatment in a stretcher.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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