Bitter tears in Police Service over ‘missing’ allowance

Several police officers across the nation are wailing and gnashing their teeth over the decision by the police administration to allegedly sit on their allowances.

The affected officers are those who are regularly detailed to sit as outside banking premises security officers.

Speaking to the Daily Searchlight yesterday, the policemen said that it has been the age-old arrangement that they are paid some allowance for the duties. They said that they are normally paid an amount of Ghc70.00 a week as transport and feeding allowance for guarding banks. “My brother, we know that this money is nothing to write home about, but given the poor conditions in the service, a lot of us jump at this opportunity,” they said.

They said that there was great consternation in the force across the nation when they were told last week that the allowance would no longer be forthcoming.

“My brother, we have even heard that some stations have started implementing the policy and people are not happy at all,” they said.

The red-eyed officers told this paper guarding banks is dangerous business.

“You know that some of us have even died on duty whilst guarding banks. Do you think that we would risk our lives if we know that it is all for nothing,” they said.

When reached, a source within the Police Public Relations Unit said that they were unaware of the directive, but said that they would make inquiries.