The father of Constable Richard Osei Asibey Bonsu of the Police Striking Force, who a trainee-driver run over and killed while asleep at the courtyard of the Unit's headquarters, says he holds the State wholly responsible for his death.
"The state has murdered my son. How can you allow my son, serving in an elite unit of the Police Service, die in his sleep for lack of accommodation?"
The distraught father, Richmond Osei Asibey told the Ghana News Agency.
He said the tragedy exposes the contempt the State has for the Police Service, which it has neglected over the years.
"This goes to show that the condition of service is a factor for the abysmal performance of the Police."
Tragedy hit the Police Striking Force in the early hours of Tuesday when Felicia Ababio, 19, who was driving a Benz bus, run over the sleeping Constable Bonsu, who died instantly.
Most of the Police personnel and their dependants often sleep on the compound.
Felicia alias Kooyo, who was being taught how to drive by her boyfriend, Kofi Ahen when the accident occurred, would be charged with manslaughter.
They are in detention at the head office of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit.
Meanwhile, most of the officers of the unit have protested over the lack of accommodation for the personnel of the unit. "The accident could have been prevented if the authorities have had our welfare at heart," some said.
Colleagues of the deceased, who wanted to remain anonymous, expressed dissatisfaction with their service conditions and said it contributed to the death of their friend.
"How do you expect over 50 people to sleep in this small canteen converted into a long room."
They quoted from the Police Service Act 350/70, section 6 which states: "an officer below the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police is to be housed free of charge in barracks.
"Where the barracks is too small, quarters are to be rented and when unavailable rent allowance be provided."
Mr Douglas Akrofi Asiedu, Deputy Greater Accra Regional Commander, said the Police Administration has provided some form of accommodation for the personnel.
"We do sympathise with the unfortunate loss but sleeping outside the long room provided for personnel is very dangerous to the personnel because they are exposed to all manner of people including lunatics and criminals."
He said, "the long room may not be comfortable but this should be expected in a developing country where basic infrastructure are not in place."
Mr Asiedu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said the neglect of the Police Service has been so long that the government could not solve the problems at once.
