President honours fallen Policemen
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday lit the perpetual flame and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph Ground of the National Police Training College at Tesano in Accra in honour of the memory of eight policemen who fell in the line of duty this year.
They were Inspector Foster Amponsah, Inspector Michael Dotse K. Dzeameshie, Corporal Awal Mohammed, Sergeant Agatha Nana Nabin, Corporal George Nkwanna, Lance Corporal Alhassan Asare, Lance Corporal John Andoh and Corporal Bernard Antwi.
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The solemn ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery; the Minister of Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul; the Inspector General of Police, Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Obed Boamah Akwa.
Family members of the deceased, retired and serving policemen and the public also graced the annual ceremony, which was first held in 2014.
President Akufo-Addo later signed a remembrance book and also exchanged pleasantries with the families of the deceased.
Wall of Honour
The names of the fallen heroes were engraved on a Wall of Honour, a commemorative wall on which the names of policemen who perish through adversarial or combative action are engraved.
On the other hand, the names of policemen who die in the course of performing lawful duties but not through adversarial actions are embossed in a book referred to as the Roll of Honour.
Eligible policemen are selected by a panel, subject to the approval of the Police Management Board. The membership of the panel and the criteria for selection are set out under the Police Service Instructions.
However, policemen who die in the course of lawful duties but disqualified are not to be celebrated on memorial days.
Such policemen are those who die through suicide, misconduct, gross contributory negligence, performing duty under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or similar substances.
Band
The Police Band, under the command of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Felix Osei Marboah, played hymns during the ceremony.
A knell was sounded at the mention of the name of each fallen policeman and prayers said for him or her.
A minute’s silence was also observed for them.