President Kufuor mourns policemen who died on duty

Accra, April 17, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor and his wife Theresa were among mourners at a burial service at the Ghana Police Church in Accra on Saturday for two police personnel who died while performing their duties.

The deceased both of them promoted posthumously to the rank of Inspector with effect from January 1, this year, were David Kennedy Annor, 48, one of the President's Despatch Riders, who died on Monday, March 15 from injuries he sustained in a motor accident on Friday, March 12.

Inspector Possible Kojo Essuman, 31, died on Tuesday, March 23, while on a United Nations Peackeeping Mission in Kosovo.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nana Stephen Owusu Nsiah, speaking at the service affirmed the commitment and preparedness of the Ghana Police Service to serve the nation and mankind.

He said the 0death of the deceased would not deter them to give of their best to serve mother Ghana and mankind.

Nana Owusu-Nsiah said the death of the deceased would rather strengthen the police personnel because their colleagues died in active service, while serving their nation and mankind.

" We believe and hope that this is the time to serve our nation and mankind for the strength and energy we have from our creator. Their death would encourage us to work harder and strengthen us", he added. Nana Owusu-Nsiah commended the Government for the tremendous support and encouragement it had offered to the police to perform their duty to protect lives and property.

"With the fatherly care and support which the Government under President Kufuor had given to the Ghana Police Service and continued to give to us, we assure you and the nation that as our brothers lie here being called to their eternal rest by their creator, we would not relent in our efforts together with other security agencies to safeguard the security of Ghana and her people", he said.

The IGP expressing his appreciation to President Kufuor said " your presence at the burial service, has shown the true love you have for the police service to perform creditably to the nation and mankind". Very Reverend Benjamin Dennis Quansah, Chaplain General of the Ghana Police Service in a sermon asked all and sundry not to allow the pleasures of the world to take away the eternal value of their lives.

Very Rev. Quansah who is also a Chief Superintendent of Police said time must be used judiciously, adding " we must set our priorities right, apply wisdom to the use of time because we cannot perform two things at the same time. Nobody should postpone whatever you can do today to tomorrow".

President Kufuor donated five million cedis to each of the bereaved families.

Inspector Annor was buried later in the afternoon at the Osu Cemetary in Accra, while the corpse of Inspector Essuman was conveyed to his home-town Ajumako Mando in the Central Region for burial.

Inspector Annor, who was enlisted into the Service as a General Recruit on April 14, 1980 rose through the ranks and was promoted General Sergeant on June 1, 1998 before his untimely death.

Inspector Annor left behind a widow Comfort Annor and five children all boys.

Inspector Essuman was enlisted into the Service on November 11, 1994, rose through the ranks and was promoted to General Sergeant on July 15,1999.