Government announces compensation package for police officers

Government has instituted a compensation package for police personnel who get injured or lose their lives in the course of duty.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who announced the package at the final funeral rites of the late Chief Inspector Emmanuel Kweku Ashilevi, at the Atomic Hospital Park at Kwabenya, on Saturday, said the new package covered personnel, who lost their lives since 2002 and had not received their full entitlement.

The late Chief Inspector Ashilevi was shot dead by armed robbers, who stormed the Kwabenya Police Station on January 21, 2018, and freed suspected robbers from police custody.

Government has posthumously promoted the late police officer to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and his family would receive GH¢185,374.85 under the new package.

Government has also directed the release of funds to pay 122 other police officers, who either got injured or lost their lives in the period under review and have not received any compensation.

Vice President Bawumia said the government was committed to improving and sustaining the welfare of police officers.

He described the fallen police officer as a good policeman, who died when protecting the people of Ghana.

Vice President Bawumia said: “We have seen many such unfortunate incidents and these incidents have led to the loss of lives and maiming of innocent police officers such as Chief Inspector Emmanuel Kweku Ashilevi, which is of grave concern to the President and the Government of Ghana.

“The government has, therefore, resolved stronger than ever to improve and sustain the general welfare of all police personnel to support the Service in its fight against crime, and also to make funds available to the police administration to appropriately compensate all police officers, who get injured or even those who lose their lives in the course of their normal official duty”.

Vice President Bawumia, on behalf of the Government, extended his condolences to the family of the late police officer and assured them that, it would do everything possible to preserve his memory.

Source: GNA