Arming traffic wardens 'a possibility' – Eklu

Arming traffic wardens henceforth is “a possibility”, the Director-General of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service, ACP David Eklu has told Class91.3FM’s 12Live mid-day news on Friday, 30 August 2019 following a directive to that end by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr James Oppong-Boanuh and the Minister for the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery.

The order followed the killing of five police officers within a space of a month – the latest being the murder of two officers with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service at Kasoa on Wednesday, 28 August.

“From today, we will give MTTD officers weapons,” the IGP said on Thursday, indicating that it was a directive from the Minister for the Interior.

“From now on…police on traffic duties should be armed. I will ask that you [IGP] insist and enforce that strictly”, Mr Dery ordered, adding: “This will enable our men in uniform to effectively exercise their right of self-defence. It will also enable them as police on patrol to fight violent crime”.

On Friday, 30 August, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is the Chairman of the Police Council, also added his voice to the directive when he joined the family of the late 32-year-old Lance Corporal Mohammed Awal, who was shot dead together with Sergeant Michael Dzamesi by some unidentified robbers at Kasoa Budumburam on Wednesday.

Speaking to Class News about whether the directive will be enforced, ACP Eklu said: “That was the directive from the Minister [for the Interior] but the Police Management Board will be meeting to look at how it can be implemented”.

“It is a possibility because our officers need to be protected to be able to deliver on our mandate. And if it is a requirement and looking at the trend, I don’t think it is out of place. That’s why I’m saying that once the directive has been given, we’ll have to sit down and see how it can be implemented to enhance officer safety because that is one of the core areas that the Inspector-General of Police is emphasising.

“Just like we are currently holding the national police conference and some of these recommendations include officer safety to enable them discharge our duties without any fear, so, I think that it is a very important development and once it’s coming from His Excellency the Vice-President and the Minister, the indications are very strong that they are [both] putting in their best to support us strongly. I think that it will help enhance the safety of our officers”, ACP said.