PHOTOS: One week memorial held for DCOP Awuni

• Posted on March 23, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

People from all walks of life yesterday converged at the Police Social Centre and Keep Fit Club in Accra to mark the one week celebration of the death of the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Awuni Angwubutoge.

Clad in black and red attires, sympathisers thronged the Police Social Centre to mourn and commiserate with the police administration and the entire family members.

Florence Angwubutoge, Widow

Notable among the mourners were the former Inspector General of Police (rtd), Peter Nanfuri, now known as Naa Ansonle Ganaa II, paramount chief of Jirapa traditional area; chairman of the former National Media Commission, Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere; Dr Dominic Ayine, Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice; the Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga; Nana Ohene Ntow, former General Secretary of NPP; Frank Agyekum, spokesperson for former President John Agyekum Kufuor and Engineer May Obiri Yeboah, Executive Director, National Road Safety Commission.

Others included ACP (rtd) Victor Tandor, former Accra Central MTTU; a delegation from the Ghana Journalists Association led by Affail Monney; retired police officers; Brown Gaisie, the Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service; Police Management Board Members led by the Inspector General of Police, John Kudalor, and other senior officers and men.

From (left) Peter Nanfuri, James Agalga, Rose Bio Atinga, and John Kudalor IGP

Amidst singing and dancing to music by the police band, sympathisers exchanged pleasantries while consoling the bereaved family especially Florence Awuni, wife of the late Commander.

Some dignitaries also took turns to sign a book of condolence opened at the centre while organisations and individuals presented various items and cash to the family towards the final funeral rites.

The late DCOP Awuni’s mother, 80-year-old Madam Abore Aborigia, together with Florence Awuni, wife of the late police commander, would not hold back their tears as they wept uncontrollably for their departed son and husband.

Final Funeral Rites

A family spokesperson, Emmanuel Aburi, told the gathering that the family was still in consultations with other stakeholders to finalise the date for the final funeral rites of DCOP Awuni.

He expressed their appreciation to the police hierarchy and other invited guests for their support.

“The final funeral date will be announced to all after consultations with the various stakeholders are over.”

Eulogies

Meanwhile, Peter Nanfuri, former IGP, during whose tenure DCOP Awuni served as the Public Relations Director of the Police Administration, in an interview, said he was shocked when news of the late commander’s death got to him.

“I could not believe that DCOP Awuni could die at such a time the police administration needed his contribution,” he said.

He said DCOP Awuni was a very hardworking and honest man who was committed to his job.

Kabral Blay Amihere with Affail Monney greeting Peter Nanfuri former IGP

“He was bold and spoke only the truth while speaking his mind,” he added.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, the director in charge of the Police Public Affairs, said the police administration would remember DCOP Awuni for being professional and committed to duty.

He said, “The late DCOP Awuni would not break the rules to favour any person irrespective of that person’s social status; and some of us have lost a role model in the service.”

DCOP Awuni

The late DCOP Awuni is survived by a wife, Florence Awuni, two biological children—Akaaha Angwubutoge and Nareyore Angwubutoge —and two other adopted children.

DCOP Awuni, who was the Eastern Regional Police Commander, died on Sunday, March 13, 2016 around 7am at the Police Hospital in Accra where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

He was admitted at the Police Hospital early March this year after he was transferred from the Koforidua Central Hospital, where he was on admission for ten days after complaining of severe body pains.

The bereaved family greeting the guest

Some police officers who visited him while he was receiving treatment at the Male Executive Ward of the Police Hospital told DAILY GUIDE that his death was shocking because he was not in any serious health condition.

The seasoned law enforcement officer had been with the Police Service from 1980 and held various positions in the Police Service, among them, Director of Public Relations, District Police Commander, Divisional Police Commander, Regional Police Commander and National Commanding Officer, MTTU.

By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey