Public Services Workers Union apologises to police for "unfortunate"airport altercation

The Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress, has apologised to the Police Service for an altercation at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) last month in which a police officer was manhandled.

A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday signed by Mr Richard Amparbeng, General Secretary, said the Union had noted with great concern the misunderstanding between some of its members who were employees of the Ghana Airports Company Limited and personnel of the Ghana Police Service at KIA.

“…PSWU would like to render an unqualified apology to the Police High Command and the Ghana Police Service for the unfortunate incident that occurred at the Airport premises on Wednesday, 14th March, 2012,” PSWU said.

Angry aviation security personnel brought operations at the Domestic Flight Terminal to a temporary halt in a sit down strike in solidarity with the Commander of the Aviation Security, Mr Ben Henaku, who was arrested by the National Security for allegedly breaching security procedure during the arrival of President John Evans Atta Mills at the airport from the US.

The aviation security, to protest the alleged handling of their boss, locked up part of the domestic terminal.

The PSWU statement said: “We believe that the Police Service personnel are professionals who despite the numerous challenges they face in performing their duties have always carried out their responsibilities exceptionally well to the best of their abilities. Therefore, it is unwarranted and unacceptable for their work to be brought into disrepute.”

The Union said it took serious exception to the incident, adding “We unequivocally condemn such acts and give the police our firm assurance that such an incident will not be repeated.”

It pledged its support to and cooperation with the police in delivering their “constitutional mandate of ensuring peace and security in our communities before, during and after the December 12 parliamentary and presidential elections”.**