The Member of Parliament for Wa West and a retired Police Officer, Peter Lanchene Toobu has slammed the Ghana Police Service over the killing of a policeman following an attack on a bullion van at Ablekuma Fanmilk in Accra.
According to the former Secretary to the immediate-past Inspector General of Police, David Asante Appeatu, there were operational lapses leading to the death of the young policeman.
The police officer who was escorting a makeshift bullion van was shot and killed by armed robbers at the Star Oil filling station at Ablekuma on Thursday, June 22, 2023.
Speaking on the Morning Starr on Starr FM, the Wa West MP who is also the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Interior said the incident bring to life the blatant disregard for an earlier directive asking officers not to go on duties such as this without being properly dressed.
“The Ghana Police Service has a unitary command, the IGP is responsible for the administration and operation of the Ghana Police Service. On the 18th June, 2021, the IGP then, James Oppong Boanuh issued a directive that nobody should sit in the trunk of a bullion van, and nobody should go out on this particular duty without being appropriately attired. Being appropriately attired means you are in a ballistic helmet, wearing armored plated jacket, that it what it means. That is from the office of the IGP and I believe that this directive is still in force. Why people are violating the directive, we wait to see what the IGP will do. Because normally when you issue a directive, until there is a flaw, for you to realize that this directive is being ignored you probably wouldn’t know. But today, Mr George Akuffo-Dampare will not say I don’t know. If he didn’t know, this incident will tell you that, that directive has been violated over and over so what is the next step to take, we wait on him to act.”
Asked by the host, Francis Abban if the Police Service has failed the deceased police officer? Mr Lancene Toobu said: “I won’t say a complete yes to this because this is a matter under investigation. How come he was out there without appropriate attire, was he given everything required and he decided on his own not to wear them. Did he demand for them and he wasn’t given? how was he convinced to go without them, these are all questions. So until the questions are answered you won’t be able to blame the deceased person or blame the institution.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
