We'll take good care of you – Bawumia promises widows, children of slain cops

Ghana’s Vice-President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia has assured the widows and children of the two cops who were recently murdered by armed robbers that the state will take care of them.

He said the two police officers have sacrificed their lives for the nation and there is the need to appreciate them by taking care of their families left behind.

"We have to think about their families, we've to think about their wives and children and how they are going to be looked after following the burial and so on.

"We want to assure the families that the government is very much concerned about how the children are going to be looked after, how their wives are going to be looked after and packages will be prepared to make sure that they are well-looked after following their demise," he promised.

Dr Bawumia, who is the Chairman of the Police Council was speaking at the burial ceremony of the late 32-year-old Lance Corporal Mohammed Awal who was shot together with Sergeant Michael Dzamesi by some unidentified robbers at Kasoa Budumburam in the Central Region on Wednesday, 28 August 2019.

He called on Ghanaians to pray for police personnel since they are sacrificing their lives for the nation.

“On Wednesday, within a few hours of the murder, three of the perpetrators were arrested and one is still on the run, but Insha Allah, that person can run but he can’t hide. He will also be captured. And we believe that they will be vigorously and rigorously subjected to the laws in Ghana.

“The police are members of our family and they continue to maintain the peace in Ghana. We need peace for everything that we do. Without peace as a country, we are not going to be able to go very far.

“In the last month, something very unusual has happened. Within 30 days, five unarmed police officers have been murdered. They have been killed in a cowardly way by criminals.”

“The president, the government, is very clear that we cannot sit down to allow this to happen in this country which is known for its peace and stability.

“We have already been taking measures to try to beef up the responsiveness of the police and make sure that they are in the execution of their duties.

“The IGP announced yesterday and I will make the same announcement today that the era when we send the police for outside duties whether for traffic or other duties unarmed is over.

“Henceforth, all police officers who go for outside duties will carry ammunition, will carry weapons and will also have bulletproof vests and helmets.

“It is just by coincidence that just this week we delivered 4,500 bulletproof vests to the police service and more will be coming”, Dr Bawumia said.