Armed MTTD officers will assist in fighting violent crimes – Interior Minister defends
Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery has defended the decision to arm officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Police Service.
He said contrary to fears that arming the officers pose a threat to public safety, the officers with their weapons can now help control crime.
Addressing Staff of Police officers in the Ashanti region at the Ashanti regional Police Headquarterson Wednesday September 3, 2019 as part of his 2 day working tour to all Security Headquarters in the Ashanti region, Hon. Ambrose Derry questioned why the decision of arming police officers has become almost an enemy whiles it has no bad effect.
He wondered why some civilians have acquired arms both legal and illegal for protection but not the police.
“Giving the officers arms will enable the MTTD to assist in fighting violent crime. Let me remind you they are all police trained in how to handle arms but only been assigned to take care of traffic.
“Individual citizens apply, civilians apply and after having proper checks are granted permission to buy arms to protect themselves. People who are not trained, if that is not a threat how can arming police be a threat,” he wondered.
Mr. Dery’s ordered officers of the MTTD to be armed following the gruesome killing of two police officers last week.
The two – Sergeant Michael Djamesi and Lance Corporal Mohammed Awal – were shot and killed in the line of duty at Budumburam in the Central region, last week.
Their death brings to five the number of personnel who have perished whilst on duty in the just one month.
This prompted government to commence processes to arm personnel, including MTTD officers. Already, some bulletproof vests, with cameras have been distributed to the police enhance personnel security.
Police in the Ashanti Region has received four hundred of them, expecting more soon.
Mr. Derry warns a refusal to wear them will come with sanctions.
“When you go out to the UN missions you wear them so here you should wear…so when we start sanctioning you have to understand.”
On his part, the Minister from the Ashanti Regional Police Command visited the the Ashanti Regional Fire Service Command and the Kumasi Central Prisons to interact with the personnel and their Commanders.
The Interior Minister earlier met with the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and leadership of the Ashanti Regional Peace Council at the Regional Coordinating council in a close door meeting to discuss security related issues.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Evans Agyei Sikapa
