President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday lighted a perpetual flame at the Police Training School in Accra to signify that the nation will forever remember the eight police personnel, including a woman, who lost their lives this year while performing official duties.
They “fallen heroes” are Inspector Michael Dotse K. Dzeameshie and Lance Corporal Awal Mohammed, who were shot and killed by armed men on August 28 while on duty on the Kasoa Highway in the Central Region and General Corporal Bernard Antwi, who was killed on August 19 at Domi near Antoakrom while escorting miners with their black gold at Manso Nkwanta.
General Lance Corporal Alhassan Asare was found dead from what is suspected to be gunshot wounds while on duty. The only female on the list, PW Sergeant Agatha Nana Nabin, was shot and killed by armed men on July 30 on the Kumbungu road in Tamale by armed men.
The rest are Inspector Foster Ampomah, who was knocked down and killed by a cargo truck on the Kintampo-Techiman road, General Lance Corporal John Andoh who was knocked down and killed by a Kia Rhino whiles on snap check duty at Kubease in the Ashanti Region and General Corporal George Nkwanna who was involved in a motor accident on his way to duty.
After lighting the perpetual flame at the Police Memorial Day ceremony, the President laid a wreath in their honour, and signed a Remembrance Book.
The Inspector General of Police, representatives of the Ga Traditional Council and bereaved families also laid wreaths.
The ceremony was marked with religious prayers, hymns from the police band, reveille and flag raising, and sounding of the last post, a bugle call to indicate that the police officers have gone to their final rest.
Present at the ceremony were the IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh, Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery, and the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, among others.
Also present were members of the Police Management Board, families of the deceased, and a cross-section of the public.
By Anita Nyarko Yirenkyi and Yaw Kyei
