The 2020 Presidential candidate of the opposition NDC has demanded more protection for police officers following an increased rate of fatal attacks on the law enforcers.
In a Facebook post commiserating with the families of the slain officers, John Mahama demanded that “we must put in place stringent measures to help protect our men in uniform.”
The former President condemned the “increasing spate of violence against officers” and added that “may their families be consoled and the perpetrators be brought to justice sooner than later.”
Already, the acting Inspector-General of Police, James Oppong Boanuh has indicated that the force will hunt down the unscrupulous persons behind the attacks.
Addressing officers during their mid-year service earlier in August, he said the force is well equipped “to fish them out.”
“This shouldn’t dampen our morale,” COP Boanuh noted.
The concerns come after five police officers have been killed in the line of duty in the past month.
On Wednesday, two officers were shot dead at Kasoa in the Central Region by gunmen.
Last week, L/Cpl. Alhassan Asare was found lifeless in a plastic chair while on guard duty at the Dukes Petroleum Filling station at Swedru in the Eastern region at about 5:40 am.
His rifle was in between his thighs having sustained severe gunshot wounds on the head. The uniform was soaked with blood.
Three empty shells were found on the ground, a report said.
That was after an officer was killed in Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti region.
A policewoman, General Corporal Agatha Nana Nabin, was on July 30 killed while on snap check duties at Kumbungu in the Northern region.
She was shot at the back of the head with the bullet passing through the mouth and killing her instantly, media reports say.
Speaking at the 2019 Annual Police Command Conference at Sogakope in the Volta Region, the police chief said the trend cannot be allowed to continue.
He noted that the service had taken delivery of some bulletproof vests. “We have started distributing the 4,500 vests that we have received,” he said.
He added while measures are being put in place to protect the officer, the best crime control strategy is anchored on effective collaboration and partnership between communities and the police.
Source: Myjoyonline.com