Brutal treatment will be meted out to police killers – IGP warns

Following the incessant attacks on police officers in the country, Inspector General of Police, (IGP) David Asante Apeatu has warned that criminals and miscreants who attack police personnel and stations will henceforth be met with ruthless treatment from his men in accordance with the law.

The country has in recent times experience massive gruesome attacks on security personnel in the country. A number of policemen have died at the hands of criminals with the latest being Daniel Owusu, a police officer who was shot in the daylight shooting at Lapaz in Accra. Some police posts have also been besieged for various reasons and personnel harassed in the process.

At the graduation ceremony of 618 police recruits at the National Police Training School in Accra, Mr. Apeatu, reading the riot act, charged police personnel across the country to deal “ruthlessly” with persons found culpable of such acts.

He warned that the violent attacks and murder of police personnel in the country will henceforth be dealt with accordingly.

“Let me sound a stern warning to all criminal-minded persons who think officers of the Ghana Police Service can be objects of attacks to revise their notes. Our respect for law and due process will not mean we will keep mute over senseless killings of our officers in uniform as well as baseless attacks on police posts and stations.

“I have charged my commanders to deal ruthlessly with anyone who henceforth dares to wage senseless attacks on any police installation or officer according to the dictates of the law”, he stated.

He indicated the service’ resolve to deal with the worrying situation and reverse the state of lawlessness that has overtaken the country with the support of the public.

“”I urge all law abiding citizens to continue to support the Ghana Police Service, to deliver on its constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order. These decent and law abiding persons are in the majority and we have their support”, he stated.

Speaking on the recent killings of some officers, the IGP described men as some of the service’s “finest and gallant officers” who died owing to “acts that can best be described as criminal and perpetrated by cowards”.

While urging the new recruits to be poised and psyched to face the challenges ahead, he commended personnel in the service for exercising restrain when confronted with criminal attacks and handling the issue professionally.

“This job will demand your full life with very little space for leisure. Your full commitment is expected at all times, he told them.

General Recruit Vincent Kofi Macarty who emerged as the overall best recruit was highly lauded and commended by the IGP.