Ghana Police Service honours fallen heroes

Police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty this year were honoured yesterday at a memorial day held by the Ghana Police Service.

A flag-raising ceremony was performed and wreaths were laid in their honour.

In attendance were the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the Chairman of the Police Council, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr David Asante-Apeatu.

Nine police officers who died in the line of duty were honoured. Out of the number, five officers had their names engraved on the wall of honour, while four names were inscribed in the roll of honour.

The wall of honour is dedicated to officers who perished through adversarial or combative action, while the roll of honour is a book in which names of officers who died in the course of performing their lawful duties are recorded.

The nine include Detective Corporal Francis Amenyo Aballo who was shot and killed by suspected armed robbers at Ofankor, General Corporal Robert Kumi Ackah who was shot and killed in a cross fire while on a bus escort duty from Accra to Kumasi and General Corporal Daniel Owusu was also shot and killed by suspected armed robbers at Abeka Lapaz  during his community policing duties.

Others are Lance Corporal Michael Kporyi, killed by two unidentified persons at Tulaku on the Michel Camp road near Ashaiman while performing operational duties, Constable Kwakuvi Hukporti who was shot and killed by unidentified persons at Fulayiri, a suburb of Wenchau and Lance Corporal Frank Degbey who died in a fatal accident while escorting an STC bus from Takoradi to Bolgatanga.

The rest

The rest are Corporal Jakper Biitleeb Yamdauk who died when a bus he was escorting from Kumasi to Wa ran into a stationary articulated truck, Lance Corporal Esther Kagya who was knocked down by a motorbike rider at Kwamekrom/ Bibiani while conducting a snap check, Constable Daniel Kwesi Appiah who was electrocuted while on operational duties at Aiyinase Osagyefo power badge and Constable Courage Agbetiafa who was part of a patrol team which was involved in an accident on the Juapong road.

Cenotaph

The IGP acknowledged the contribution of past IGPs and the Chinese government towards the completion of the new cenotaph for the service.

He said the idea of building a cenotaph and celebrating a memorial day was initiated by two former IGPs, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye and Mr Mohammed Alhassan, and  Mr John Kudalor ensured the successful completion of the project.

Mr Asante-Apeatu expressed his appreciation to the sole sponsors of the cenotaph, Chinese firm BXC Ghana Limited, and the government and people of China for the monument.