Dr. Bawumia made the announcement when he spoke at the funeral of the late Chief Inspector.

He said the amount forms part of efforts by government to standardize compensation packages for all police officers who die in the line of duty.

“The President has asked us to look at putting in place a package which is uninformed for all the ranks, for policemen who die in the line of duty. In this regard, Chief Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi would be the first recipient of this package. The calculation of this package for chief Emmanuel Ashilevi and his family an amount of GHc185,374.85 has been released to pay for all the compensation packages for chief Inspector which is intended to appropriately support the family and to cater for the children’s education. So on Monday the wife and the children should report at the police headquarters to collect the cheque,” the Vice President added.

Dr. Bawumia also disclosed that similar compensation packages have been released to the families of 122 other police officers who either lost their lives or got injured in line of their duties like Chief Inspector Ashilevi.

He said the 122 beneficiaries include those who applied for compensation and have been awaiting their packages since the year 2002.

“Funds have also been released to pay the compensation packages of 122 other police personnel who either lost their lives or got fatally injured in the line of duty just like Chief Inspector Ashilevi. These payments covers all personnel who have applied and waited for compensation since 2002 and who have not been paid appropriately. All compensation payments being made to all affected personnel or their families are expected to be completed by the end of March this year,” he stated.

The Vice-President also announced the late officer’s posthumous promotion from Chief Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police, a gesture which was appreciated by the bereaved family.

ASP Emmanuel Kwaku Ashilevi was shot dead on January 21, 2018, as armed men broke into the Kwabenya Police Station, freeing seven inmates.

The Accra Circuit Court which was dealing with the case on February 16, 2018, imprisoned two of the escapees who had been rearrested; Atta Kwadwo and Prince Osei to 30 months after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to escape from lawful custody and escaping from lawful custody.

Meanwhile, four other escapees including three Ghanaians and a Nigerian are still on the run.

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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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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 necessitated such an honour.

[contextly_sidebar id=”mGequuUtbwPFdWCdx0dVs1Xd2YJNyfrG”]Mr. Ashilevi however noted that, the family is happy with the police’s pursuit of their son’s suspected killer so far .

He however called on government to use the tragic passing of Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi to beef up the general security of police officers across the country.

“Taking into account the circumstances leading to his death, the family will highly appreciate it if the state can accord him a state burial. We will appreciate it,” he said.

This request comes days after the family asked the government to establish a fund to cater for the education of his children.

The ceremony drew mourners from the police hierarchy including the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, Director General of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Service, DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, the Director General of Operations, COP George Dampare, and the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Alex Mensah.

The widow and bereaved family were treated to dirges by the Eastern Regional Police Band.

Background

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.

‘Cop killer busted’

In the latest development, the Accra Police Command has picked up the man believed to have shot the police officer dead.

The suspect has been identified as Kofi Seshie, aged 28.

Seshie was arrested along with four other suspects in the early hours of Saturday at Kasoa, according to a statement from the police.

The statement said these latest arrests bring the number of people detained following the incident to eleven, after six suspects were arrested during the week.

The police had announced a GHc15,000 bounty for any information leading to the arrest of the other four suspects who were freed from police custody by the robbers.

The now deceased Police officer sustained gunshot wounds and died whilst receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.

He was the breadwinner for a family of seven with the youngest being three years.

‘No mercy’

Government has since condemned the attack on the Kwabenya District Police Headquarters.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, assured that persons involved in the act will face the law.

“First of all government condemns the criminal conduct of these elements in the strongest possible terms. There is a manhunt for these criminal elements and we have no doubts in our minds that they will be brought to face justice.

“Government takes this opportunity to express its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased policeman… While this is one of the isolated incidents that have unsettled the Ghanaian population, we wish to continue to assure the Ghanaian people that the security agencies are working to ensure the general safety of the population. The preventive mechanism of the Police Service remains intact which helps to nip such occurrences in the bud before they become full-blown criminal activities.”

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The suspect has been identified as Kofi Seshie, aged 28.

[contextly_sidebar id=”8PJl3IoglSXSuLjPawMquIPslMjhcJw2″]Seshie was arrested along with four other suspects in the early hours of Saturday at Kasoa, according to a statement from the police.

The statement said these latest arrests bring the number of people detained following the incident to 11 after six suspects were arrested during the week.

Armed assailants broke into the Kwabenya Police station last Sunday and set the inmates who were in custody free after shooting the officer.

The now deceased Police officer sustained gunshot wounds and died whilst receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.

Three of the 11 persons have been confirmed to be re-arrested fugitives.

The police had announced a GHc15,000 bounty for any information leading to their arrest of the other four suspects who were freed from police custody by the robbers.

Find the full police statement below

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The suspects, David Adefioye and Taiwo Akintunde, who are currently in police custody, were locked in the shop by angry residents who were intent on lynching the pair.

However, the intervention of the police stopped the incensed crowd from carrying out the act.

Narrating the incident to Citi News, Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), ASP Effia Tenge said two police vehicles were vandalized by the mob while some of their officers were pelted with stones for preventing the residents from unleashing instant justice on the suspects.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BLWjD0PEDtsfO4ihQeNBTBbXhbHE62QM”]“Yesterday, around the hours of 6:30pm to 7pm, we had information of that some two suspected criminals who attempted to break into a boutique at Abom junction in Kwabenya and spotted on a CCTV camera had come back there again. So the owners of the boutique managed to lock up the shop to prevent the suspects from escaping.”

“So when the police got to the scene, we realized that there were a lot of people trying to bring the suspects outside and probably lynch them. So we called for reinforcements to ensure that we were able to keep these people in custody.”

She said the police managed to rescue the suspects “but the crowd did not understand why the police did not release them for them to be lynched and in the process, they vandalized two police vehicles and also pelted some police officers who had to be sent to the hospital to be treated.”

Armed robbers attack Kwabenya Police station, free fugitives

This comes on the back of last Sunday’s attack on the Kwabenya Police station by some armed robbers who killed a police officer in the process and freed seven of their colleagues who were in custody.

The incensed residents’ actions might have been due to a feeling of insecurity following the attack on the security establishment.

Two fugitives arrested 

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu while addressing the media on Friday, disclosed that two of the seven suspects who escaped from the Police station have been arrested.

He added that two persons who aided their escape have also been arrested as well as one other accomplice, belived to be their “spiritual father.”

Asante-Apeatu further called on the public to help them with information leading to the arrest of the remaining suspects and promised to give informants GHc15,000.

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The inspector was the breadwinner for a family of seven with the youngest being 3 years.

[contextly_sidebar id=”enCksgsCQeWBpUF8EcnEta6VufyI98rq”]Speaking to Citi News, brother of the deceased, Mawuli Ashilevi, said measures are being put in place to give their relative a befitting burial.

He however appealed for a more substantial support for the family.

“My brother is a government worker or a nation saver, so we know that because he is doing the job to save mother Ghana they government will treat his family better. So if they can put some amount aside to help the children in the future to further their education, it will be a very good thing to do. So we are hoping to get something from government, they promised so we are looking up to them,” he added.

Background

A gang of suspected armed robbers on Sunday dawn attacked the Kwabenya District Police Headquarters, which accommodates the Kwabenya Police Station, killing an officer on duty, and freeing cell inmates.

A total of seven inmates were freed.

Meanwhile, the Police have begun a manhunt for the seven fugitives.

No mercy 

Government has also condemned the attack on the Kwabenya District Police Headquarters.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, assured that persons involved in the act will face the law.

“First of all government condemns the criminal conduct of these elements in the strongest possible terms. There is a manhunt for these criminal elements and we have no doubts in our minds that they will be brought to face justice.

“Government takes this opportunity to express its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased policeman… While this is one of the isolated incidents that have unsettled the Ghanaian population, we wish to continue to assure the Ghanaian people that the security agencies are working to ensure the general safety of the population. The preventive mechanism of the Police Service remains intact which helps to nip such occurrences in the bud before they become full blown criminal activities.”

Trust Fund

The request for an education fund to support the children of the late police officer comes on the back of the passage of the Major Mahama Trust fund which was set up by government for children of Major Mahama, a military officer who was lynched in the line of duty at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region in May 2017.

The fund has a seed capital of GH¢500,000 and was approved by Parliament in November 2017.

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According to Mr. Sowatey, swiftness in the arrest of fugitives as well as the severity of the punishment they receive will discourage suspects who are nursing similar ideas.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Jy6R7bT7ihcJiM963UYd6UDebAj9QmiP”]“When it comes to criminology in the deterrent theory, there are three variables—one has to be the certainty of the arrest. The certainty of the arrest deters people that they will surely be re-arrested.The arrest doesn’t mean they will be necessarily arrested right after the act, but that when they leave, they will be found,” he added.

Mr. Sowatey made the remark on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday on the back of the escape of some seven suspects from the Kwabenya District Police station after some armed robbers attacked the station over the weekend, killing one police officer who was on duty.

The police are currently on a manhunt for the seven fugitives as well as the suspected armed robbers who freed them.

Citing the United States of America as an example, Mr. Sowatey said security operatives in that country are able to fish out fugitives, even decades after they break out of jail.

“That’s the deterrent. The other one has to do with the swiftness of the arrest and severity of the punishment. What has been one of the effective ways in deterring people is the certainty of being arrested.”

He however advised the police to adopt a holistic process in their search for the fugitives, saying “when it comes to the certainty of being arrested, people have roles to play – the state security, police, media, BNI and ordinary Ghanaians all have a role to play.”

’13 Dela Force operatives escape’

13 members of Delta Force, a New Patriotic Party-affiliated group, who were initially detained for attacking a public officer were rearrested last October.

At their first appearance in court, the 13 escaped from lawful custody, when the Judge ruled that they be remanded and not given bail.

They reported themselves to the police, and were fined Ghc2,400 each, and also made to sign a bond of good behaviour for escaping lawful custody.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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