IGP SHOWS HIS HUMANNESS… AS HE SHEDS TEARS AT SCENE OF FIRE OUTBREAK THAT CLAIMS LIVES OF POLICEMAN, 2 OTHERS

 

Dr. George Akuffo Dampare(with folded arms) with Ashanti Rgl GNFS Commander at the scene

The Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akufo Dampare showed his humanness while interacting with personnel of the Police Service and relatives of the deceased Sergeant of the Anti Robbery Squad as part of his visit to the scene of Sunday midnight’s inferno at Apromase in the Ashanti region.

In the company of some senior police officials from both the national headquarters and Ashanti Regional Command, the head of the Ghana Police Service was at the scene in the Ejisu Municipality in a swift reaction to the news of the catastrophe of the burning to death of Sergeant Asante Baafi Owusu, his wife, Millicent Achaa and their 4-month old baby boy, Samuel Kwabena Baafi Nyamedo in a domestic fire outbreak that occurred at their Flats on the last floor of a two-storey building within the police barracks at Apromase.

Ashanti Today has gathered that the wife, Millicent had returned to the barracks exactly one week from her mother where she delivered the baby and had the naming ceremony but was unfortunately caught up in the disaster.

Upon hearing of the news, the IGP made an urgent visit to the fire scene to familiarize with the reality of the situation, as has become part of his internal relations with staff of the Service since his assumption of duty.

Upon arrival at the scene, Dr. Dampare interacted with personnel of both the Police and Ghana National Fire Service on the ground after which he toured the five apartments affected by the fire to see for himself the extent of the destruction.

He later spoke to the police personnel and relatives of the deceased.

It was while speaking about the reasons for his visit and expressing condolences to the grief-striken people  that, the IGP shed tears and tried to hide it with a ‘gentle’ wipe using one of his right fingers.

“One of our colleagues, his wife and about 3 or 4-month old baby have passed on for eternity. We’ve been able to contact the family in line with our Standard Operating Procedure and the family, and by extension the Next of Kin, have been informed. And we have members of the family also here to witness what happened. And it is on this note that I express the heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family in particular and the rest of us in general because the biological source must have been the family, wife and child but his social family is the Police Service and by extension, the entirety of the Ghanaian public”, the administrative head of the Ghana Police Service said in a sad tone.

 

At the interaction section, the IGP assured that, the Ghana Police Service is to evacuate all residents within its barracks at Apromase to a temporary residential facility elsewhere for safety.  According to him, nothing should be left to chance in safeguarding the lives of both serving officers and their families in ensuring they have sound mind to perform their legally assigned duties.

Eye witness accounts suggests that, the incident occurred at a time Sergeant Owusu and his wife and baby were fast asleep. Before the Ghana National Fire Service could arrive and subdue the inferno, enough destruction had been caused to both life and property. The Fire Service used two fire engines to control the fire. Also, the five apartments on the top floor of the building affected by the fire have been destroyed.

Dr. Dampare assured that also that, the Police Service is prepared to provide the best of care for those affected by the inferno to enable them commit to the national course.