The Ghana Police Service has honoured 20 officers killed in the line of duty this year, describing them as martyrs whose courage keeps the nation safe.
At a memorial ceremony, the message was clear: every officer who serves is a potential hero and a potential target, a solemn reminder of the sacrifice behind the badge.
Tears flowed, memories lingered, and the weight of loss hung heavy in the air.
On behalf of the Inspector General of Police, the administration extended deep condolences to the widows, widowers, children, families, and friends left behind.
They described the death of an officer as a loss not only to loved ones but to every Ghanaian who depends on peace and order.
The message was reflective and deeply spiritual, a reminder that no one escapes the grave.
Officers were urged to put their houses in order, because what has befallen the heroes being honoured could befall any other tomorrow.
The names of every fallen officer have now been engraved in stone, a permanent monument,
a salute to courage, and a promise that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
Eight of them are on the wall of honour, while the remaining twelve are in the memorial book of honour
The speaker challenged Ghanaians to honour them by sacrificing selfishness, greed, and indifference, so that the nation they died defending can truly progress.
The families they left behind may carry the pain, but the nation carries their legacy.
Police Memorial Day is set aside each year to honour officers who died in the line of duty while safeguarding lives, property, and public order, whether their sacrifice occurred within Ghana or on international peacekeeping missions.
The day serves as a solemn tribute to the immense contributions and sacrifices made by police officers who protect the nation, often at the peril of their own lives.
Around the world, law enforcement officers embrace a truth that defines their calling: ”policing is a sacrificial profession”.
It demands courage in the face of danger and imposes risks that few are willing to bear, as they confront crime and defend society from harm.
When officers pay the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, Police Memorial Day stands as a tribute that immortalises their heroism on a lasting monument.
There is a timeless saying: “A nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for.”
In that spirit, the President of the Republic joins the Police Administration and bereaved families each year to mourn and celebrate these gallant men and women whose service upheld the peace and stability of our country.
Although the idea of honouring fallen officers was conceived many years ago, it officially took effect on 24th November 2014.
The maiden commemoration took place on an open, bare floor at the National Police Training School, without a permanent memorial structure.
Recognising the importance of this national duty, the Police Administration subsequently constructed a Cenotaph to serve as the permanent site for remembrance.
On 28th November 2016, the monument hosted its first ceremony in honour of officers who died in 2015 and 2016.
Today, Police Memorial Day is firmly institutionalised through Service Instruction (S.I.) No. 63, granting it full administrative legitimacy within the Ghana Police Service.
In honour of officers who fall in the line of duty, the Service provides various forms of support to their surviving families.
These include financial compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Law, official police burial, and other welfare interventions.
In exceptional circumstances, fallen officers are also promoted posthumously in recognition of their sacrifice.
Source:paqmediagh/Peter Quao Adattor
