Awuni 'irreplaceable' – Baako, Lokko

Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, has paid tribute to the late DCOP Angwubutoge Awuni, who died Monday March 14, 2016 at the Police Hospital.

The veteran journalist described the Eastern Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service as a “solid, principled gentleman”.

He said the demise of the senior police officer “hurts”.

Mr Baako told Samson Lardy Anyenini, host of Newsfile on Saturday March 19, 2016: “He is irreplaceable; I think Ghana has a lot of human resources, many like him are still around in the police and outside the police…it’s just that sometimes things don’t go the way we want. But my condolences to the bereaved family, and let’s hope to give him a fitting burial and whatever support the state and friends can give to the family.”

Contributing to the discussion, Ms Eva Lokko, the 2012 running mate to PPP flagbearer Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, shared the views of Mr Baako about the late DCOP Awuni’s indispensability.

“I believe that when we are talking about him being irreplaceable, it is not that the work being done cannot be done [by anyone else]. But I don’t think you can have somebody exactly like him because he comes with a certain set of combination of skills and sensitivities. Others may come with a certain set, but it’s all good for the country. So, in that sense, you can say he is irreplaceable,” said Ms Lokko, who added that after her few encounters with the former MTTD boss, she had come away with the view that not only was he “a very good professional” but also a “very helpful”, “very considerate”, “accommodating” and “firm” person.

She added that the loss had been all the more painful given the prevailing graft within Ghana. “Now, if you look at the state of corruption in this country, you do not want to lose somebody like him, especially since he is in the police force,” Ms Lokko stated.