The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, is seeking urgent accommodation for 140 (One hundred and forty) families of police personnel at the Accra Central Police barracks, which was razed down by fire two days ago.
Making the appeal through The Chronicle, the IGP said about 100 (One hundred) of the affected families are currently being sheltered in two large conference rooms at the Accra Regional Police Headquarters, while 40 (forty) families have sought temporary accommodations with relatives.
The victims, apart from the immediate attentions needed, are currently being provided with two square meals a day.
The Chief Constable was emphatic that the police administration, as an urgent measure, shall rent hotels and guest houses to accommodate the distressed personnel and their families.
Mr Yohuno, who was speaking to The Chronicle in an interview, stated that all the families had their properties consumed in the inferno.
“Most of my men were away to perform official duties and this took place in their absence.
Even those available escaped only in their T-shirts over shorts to save lives, the Chief Constable said with a heavy heart.
Thankfully, he stated, there was no human casualties.
The IGP further told The Chronicle that he had dispatched the Estates Department of the Ghana Police Service to go all out to seek permanent accommodation for the affected Police families. For the sake of proximity, his appeal targets landlords and estate developers in places such as Oyibi, and Oyibi Down.
The Accra Central Police barracks was completed in 1916 and served as accommodation for members of the Gold Coast Constabulary. It would be recalled that during the Sagrenti War (between British and Asantes 1873-1874), colonial military officer, Captain John Glover, in 1874, went to recruit 700 (Seven Hundred) Hausa men from Northern Nigeria, Sokoto to be precise, to strengthen their squad against the Asante warriors.
After the war, which was won by the British, 400 (four hundred) of these men were initially used to form the Gold Coast Hausa Constabulary, later Gold Coast Constabulary which metamorphosed into the Gold Coast Police Force.The remaining 300 (three hundred) Hausa men were used to form the nucleus of the Gold Coast regiment of the army.
Apart from the Prampram Police Station and barracks, which was the first in the Gold Coast, the Accra Central Police barracks remained one of the oldest.
A retired IGP who preferred anonymity told the paper that the entire barracks should have been pulled down decades ago because of structural integrity deficiency.He, therefore, called for integrity audit of such colonial institutional structures to avert calamities.
Meanwhile the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who visited the burnt police barracks assured victims that government would provide immediate support and temporary accommodation for displaced families.
Addressing the media after the inspection, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak disclosed that arrangements were being made to secure temporary accommodation for all families displaced by the incident, while plans for the reconstruction of the damaged barracks are being finalised.
He further announced that affected victims would receive cash assistance, clothing and other relief items, with additional support expected from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
The Interior Minister commended the Ghana Police Service, particularly the Inspector-General of Police and members of the Police Management Board, for their swift response to the emergency.
He also praised the Ghana National Fire Service for its efforts in containing the blaze and preventing further destruction.
According to him, government would work with relevant agencies to establish the cause of the fire and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in future.
As part of the visit, the Minister called on a police officer who sustained injuries during the incident and is currently receiving treatment at the Police Hospital.
He expressed concern for the officer’s condition and commended the medical team for their prompt response and care.
Alhaji Muntaka urged the injured officer to focus on his recovery and assured him of government’s support throughout the healing process.
The fire, which swept through sections of the police barracks, displaced several families and destroyed personal belongings, prompting government and emergency agencies to mobilise relief support for affected residents.
For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z
