Ghana Police Service honours 13 personnel
The acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr John Kudalor, has asked personnel of the Ghana Police Service to redouble their efforts to retrieve all illegal arms in the country.
Advertisement
That, he said, would guarantee peace and stability, especially when the nation prepared for elections in 2016.
He said the recent retrieval of weapons in Kumasi indicated that there could be more of such arms in the hands of criminals living in communities.
“The onus is on us to strive to arrest persons illegally possessing arms and retrieve all the lethal weapons in our desire to continue enjoying the peace that has made this country a safe haven within the West African sub-region,” he said.
Mr Kudalor was speaking yesterday at a ceremony at the Police Headquarters in Accra to honour 13 police personnel for their exemplary performance in the retrieval of lethal weapons including 11 AK 47 assault rifles, 10 G3 assault rifles, one machine gun and several ammunitions in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on December 11, 2015.
The arrest, which followed months of monitoring of the activities of the arms dealers, is so far the biggest in the records of the Ghana Police Service.
The principal suspect, believed to be an Ivorian who was operating with the support of Ghanaians, are currently facing court action.
13 police officers
The awardees were Superintendent Mr Frank Abrokwa, Superintendent Rev. Samuel Nyamekye Andane Ameyaw, Chief Inspector Bossman Asirifi Ababio, Detective
Inspector Joseph Ibrahim Bawah, Detective Inspector Akwasi Antwi Boasiako, General Sergeant Kassim Ben Ahmed, General Sergeant Agyiri Frederic Okoh, Lance Corporal
Mary Adutwumwaa, General Corporal Robert Agyare, General Corporal Joseph Sokatsi, Detective Lance Corporal Isaac Chimbuah, Detective Lance Corporal Dickson
Frimpong and General Corporal Jonas Kobla.
Citations were read for each of the police officers for their diligent work leading to the arrest of the arms dealers. They were also given plaques in recognition of their effort.
Emulate example
The acting IGP said the gesture was not only meant to show appreciation to the officers and men for demonstrating a lot of zeal, courage and commitment in the arrest, but to urge them on to work harder and also encourage others to emulate the good example in the quest to bring crime to its lowest ebb.
He cautioned that his administrative machinery would sort out the bad personnel from the good ones without fear or favour.
Volunteer information
Mr Kudalor lauded the public for volunteering information to the police about the activities of the suspected arms dealers.
“This is, thus, a clear indication that for the vision of the service to be realised, the collective efforts of the police and the general public is required,” he said.
Mr Kudalor stressed that without the support of the public, arresting criminals in their hideouts, effective prosecution of accused persons and even the re-arrest of jail breakers would be difficult to achieve.
“Volunteering credible information to the Police Service is one of the major means by which crime can be fought effectively,” he said.
Director-General, Operations
The Director-General, Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said it was the hope of the Police Administration that honouring the police officers and men would spur them on to perform even better.
DCOP Kofi Boakye
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Mr Nathan Kofi Boakye, said the singular act of honouring the 13 police officers in a timely manner clearly indicated that the Police Administration and for that matter Ghana was worth dying for.
He expressed gratitude to informants and volunteer groups who did not only give the police information leading to the arrest and retrieval of the arms but also participated in the operations under the leadership of Superintendent Rev. Samuel Adane-Ameyaw.
Pull-out ceremony
In a related development, a special pull-out party was also held for the former Director-General of the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards, retired Commissioner of Police, Mrs Joana Osei-Poku.
Advertisement
Mrs Osei-Poku, who retired from the Ghana Police Service on November 16, 2015, after serving the service for 34 years, was given a plaque by the acting IGP.
In her address, Mrs Osei-Poku urged the police to seek the face of God when they were confronted with situations that challenged their integrity.