Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, has said government will soon institute welfare plans for families of police officers who die in the line of duty.
This, according to the Minister, will ensure that police officers are not worse off than their counterparts in the military.
Mr. Dery gave this assurance at the one-week observation of the passing of the police officer who was shot dead in last Sunday’s attack on the Kwabenya Police Station.
“As the IGP said, some provisions have been made for the family of the deceased officer. That provision is not a provision that existed in the past. It is a special provision that was initiated by the President and at the appropriate time the details will be known to the family. But Mr. President is committed to institutionalizing a system that will ensure that when a police officer dies in the line of duty, they are not worse off than their colleagues who die in the army,” the Minister stated.
A gang of suspected armed robbers attacked the Kwabenya District Police Headquarters, which accommodates the Kwabenya Police Station, killing the officer on duty, and freeing cell inmates.
A total of seven inmates were freed but three of them have since been rearrested.
In the latest development, the Accra Police Command has picked up the man believed to have shot the police officer dead and four other suspects.
While emphasizing government’s commitment to making Ghanaians feel safe, the Minister further assured the bereaved family of its commitment to making life easier for them.
“The President’s commitment to make Ghana safe and Ghanaians safe is unshakable and nothing is going to stand in his way of ensuring that.”
The Minister further extended condolences on behalf of the President, saying “Today [Sunday], I’m here on behalf of his excellency the President to express his condolence to the bereaved family and to put on record his appreciation, his admiration, his acknowledgement of the heroism and professionalism. “
He also gave the assurance of the Police Service’s commitment to ensuring that no stone is left unturned in getting the perpetrators of the act to face the law.
“I believe those who followed have realized that a number of suspects have been arrested . They shall be brought to justice and no one should think that they can take the law into their hands.”
State burial for deceased
Meanwhile, the family of the deceased police officer wants the state to honour him with a state funeral.
Spokesperson for the family, Robert Normesinu Ashilevi, who made the request on their behalf at the ceremony to mark a week since his brother’s passing, said the tragic manner in which their breadwinner died necessitates such an honour.
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By: Marian Ansah & Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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