One of our front page stories, the lead, in this edition relates the Apiate tragedy and matters which arose thereof.
Was there an escort as required by security standards given the nature of the cargo? So much water has passed under the bridge since the tragedy struck, the most outstanding being the emphatic disclosure from a chief who lives outside the epicenter of the incident to the effect that there was none. He even challenged anybody with contrary position to challenge him.
It is for good reasons that those holding traditional positions should not raise their heads above the parapet especially in matters which are controversial and beyond the ken of those with little or no knowledge of security matters.
Until the convincing details as contained in the story alluded to in an earlier paragraph, the position had been that the truck conveying the explosives to their final destination did not have a police escort.
With sufficient documentary and pictorial evidence to the contrary, we think that the Police deserves an apology from those who took a swipe at them for a lapse which turned out not to be.
The chief of Bepoh, Nana Atta Kojo Bremibi, who claimed that there was no police escort when he was interacting with two ministers who had visited the disaster scene, created a befuddlement which hurt managers of our internal security. They did so well in stepping in when a leadership vacuum was created that the emotional hurt they endured was so uncalled for.
Now that a picture of the unmarked police escort vehicle has popped up we expect that he would reverse his claim and possible apologise for his insistence.
Certain security arrangements, because they are not known to us elicit befuddling positions when they are being reviewed as in the case of the Apiate tragedy.
Now that the pieces are being put together as in a jigsaw puzzle a better picture is appearing.
There was indeed a detective escort, D/Cpl Isaac Kamanim, on board the unmarked security vehicle on the fateful day.
Perhaps those who did not survey an escort vehicle in police colours with a blaring siren easily concluded that there was none let alone a police officer.
We can only render gratitude to Almighty God that the school kids in the neighbourhood managed to escape after they were alerted by the driver and the escort. As we mentioned in a previous commentary, the story could have been different.
Documentary evidence seen by the DAILY GUIDE indicates that the Police did what was expected of them.
The Divisional Commander, Tarkwa, did deal with the correspondence regarding the movement of the explosives from a private magazine.
We wish we could get education about security issues the lack of which is responsible for the manner in which we sometimes create impressions which eventually turn out to be cock and bull.
For the bereaved, we pray to the Almighty God to grant the fortitude to endure the pain of their loss.
To the Police, who provided the leadership when befuddlement reigned in the aftermath of the tragedy, we say bravo for a job well done.