Wa West MP charges Police Department with murder of police officer

Peter Lanchene Toobu, a former police officer and member of parliament for Wa West, has criticised the Ghana Police Service over the death of a police officer who was responding to an attack on a bullion truck at Ablekuma Fanmilk in Accra.

The young policeman’s death was caused by operational mistakes, according to David Asante Appeatu, the former secretary to the recently-retired Inspector General of Police.

On June 22, 2023, armed thieves shot and murdered a police officer who was guarding a makeshift bullion vehicle at the Star Oil filling station in Ablekuma.

The Wa West MP, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Parliament’s Committee on Defence and Interior, stated during an appearance on the Morning Starr on Starr FM that the event brought to life the apparent contempt for a previous order urging police not to do such responsibilities while not properly clad.

“The IGP is in charge of overseeing the management and functioning of the Ghana Police Service, which is under a unified command. Nobody was to sit in a bullion van’s trunk or do this specific function without being properly dressed, according to an order given by James Oppong Boanuh, the IGP at the time, on June 18, 2021. It just requires that you are wearing an armoured plated jacket and a ballistic helmet to be considered suitably dressed. The IGP’s office issued it, and this order is still in effect, in my opinion. We’re waiting to see what the IGP will do to find out why individuals are breaking the rule. Because often when you issue a command, you generally wouldn’t be aware that it is being disregarded until there is a defect. However, Mr. George Akuffo-Dampare won’t declare I’m not sure today. If he didn’t know, this episode will convince him that it did. That command has been broken repeatedly, so what should we do next? We’ll wait for him to take action.”

Whether the Police Service let down the deceased police officer is a question posed by the presenter, Francis Abban. Because this is an issue that is still being looked at, Mr. Lancene Toobu stated: “I won’t say yes completely to this. How did he end up outside without the proper attire? He had everything needed, but he chose not to wear it. Did he ask for them and not receive them? All of these inquiries revolve on how he was persuaded to leave without them. Therefore, you won’t be able to blame the deceased individual or the institution until the questions are resolved.