The Ghana Police Service has stated that the plan to arm personnel of its Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) officers is a step in the right direction.
The recent trend of criminals targeting unarmed police officers has compelled the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery to direct the Acting Inspector General of Police, to provide arms and other protective gears for personnel of the MTTD.
It follows the gruesome murder of two police officers at Bududburam in the Central Region which brought to five the number of murdered officers within a month.
Director-General of Police Public Affairs Directorate, ACP David Eklu in an interview on Eyewitness News said the mode of implementation of the directive will be discussed and adopted with immediate effect.
“Traditionally, MTTD officers are not armed but the recent developments have shown that all police Officers performing frontline duties such as the MTTD officers will require some form of protection of themselves so they can perform their duties. These are the areas we are looking at. Like the Minister directed the IGP, this is an area we need to look at so the protection of our officers can be enhanced. What it means is that the IGP will have to sit down with the Police Management board, the Director-General in charge of Motor Traffic Unit and look at the modalities in there. We are certain that we will be able to provide logistics”, ACP Eklu said on Eyewitness News on Thursday.
Ambrose Dery said his directive to provide the MTTD officers with protective gears and arms to protect their lives is to enable the MTTD officers to exercise their right to self-defence.
“The police will be provided with bulletproof equipment, vests and helmets to enable the police to exercise their right to self-defence effectively. So, the directive is that from now we would make sure that our police on traffic duties are armed. Not only should they defend themselves but they must be equipped to deal with violent crimes when it comes their way. The IGP has been ordered now and I know he is going to do a good job to make sure that what happened to the police officers do not happen to other police who are on traffic duty.”
“The police will be provided with bulletproof equipment, vests and helmets to enable the police to exercise their right to self-defence effectively. So, the directive is that from now we would make sure that our police on traffic duties are armed. Not only should they defend themselves but they must be equipped to deal with violent crimes when it comes their way. The IGP has been ordered now and I know he is going to do a good job to make sure that what happened to the police officers do not happen to other police who are on traffic duty.”
IGP gives assurances
The Acting IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh, had also assured that the administration will provide a congenial atmosphere for police officers to work.
He added that necessary protective gears will be made available to police officers across the country to protect themselves.
“In our situation, we have not found it necessary to arm our officers. That is why when someone shoots and kills an officer who is not holding a weapon we must all come together. Today I expect all Ghanaians to stand with the Ghana Police Service against these criminals who harm innocent officers. It is said that desperate situations call for desperate measures, and so we will use all strategies to ensure that these killings end,” he assured.
The two officers, Lance Corporal Mohammed Awal and Sargent Michael Dameshi on Wednesday lost their lives when occupants of a vehicle they signalled to stop opened fire on them along the Kasoa to Budumburam stretch.
So far three suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of the officers.
