President Nana Akufo-Addo says his government is committed to resourcing the Police Service in terms of provision of adequate personnel and logistics, to enable them to deliver on their core mandate.
He said this is in recognition of the difficulties and dangers confronting police personnel in the discharge of their duties.
“Despite budgetary constraints, the Akufo-Addo government has, in two and half years in office, provided 568 vehicles, including 15 operational buses to the Service, a feat unprecedented in the history of the Service,” he said.
With many more vehicles expected to arrive in the country in the next few months, the President noted that when he took office in January 2017, the Service had a total of 492serviceable cars.
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Friday when he addressed the graduation ceremony of the 49th Cadet Officers Course of the Ghana Police Service.
Additionally, the President noted that 320 housing units are being constructed at National Police Training School to reduce the accommodation deficits of the Service.
“Modern communication equipment and 4,500 fragmentation jackets have been procured and delivered to the Service to protect officers, and ensure effective policing,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “Government has also secured three helicopters for the Service, with the construction of hangars at the National Police Training School almost nearing completion.
“I am happy to inform you that six officers are currently undergoing training in South Africa to become pilots for the helicopters, and serve as the Air Wing of the Police Service.”
Twenty horses, the President said, have also been procured to assist the Police in riot and crowd control, with a Canine (K9) Unit, made up of 30 dogs, also in the offing.
The recent establishment of the Police Intelligence Directorate, he said, is ensuring that police operations and investigations are increasingly being carried out on the basis of intelligence.
“The Criminal Investigations Department will, by the end of the year, be equipped with a digital forensics’ laboratory, and, for the first time in the history of the Department, crime officers are given a monthly allowance to support their investigations.
“We are retooling the CID Forensic Science lab; the CID building has also now become disability-friendly, and there is continuous training of CID officers,” the President said.
Touching on recruitment of new police personnel, President Akufo-Addo noted that Government has given approval for the recruitment of 4,000 personnel to augment the strength of the Police Service.
He revealed that 961 of these recruits passed out between 22nd and 31st July this year, in various Police Training Schools throughout the country.
“The second batch of 1,000 recruits are also due to graduate by the end of this month. Another batch, made up of 2,000 men and women, is scheduled to report for training by the end of this month,” he added.
These measures, according to the President, have been put in place by government to reform the Police Service and make it fit for purpose.
Condemnation of Attacks
The recent attacks on some police officers, which have resulted in their deaths, he said, must no longer be allowed to continue.
“I condemn these attacks in no uncertain terms, and I assure the Police Service and the general public that, in so far as we are a nation governed under the rule of law, such criminal acts will not go unpunished. No one deserves to be killed under any criminal or extra-judicial circumstance,” President Akufo-Addo explained.
He continued, “Personnel of the Police Service should not be seen as enemies, but rather partners in the fight against crime. I am happy to note that the Police Administration has, in all these cases, acted promptly, and arrested the perpetrators, who are now facing trial. The Ghanaian people are expectant that such rapid arrests will also be carried out when the victims are ordinary citizens.”
In the same vein, the President was expectant that, any police officer who breaks the law, and abuses the freedoms and human rights of any member of society must not be spared, and should be brought to face the full rigours of the law.
On the missing Takoradi girls, President Akufo-Addo indicated that “the families of the three missing Takoradi girls and the recently discovered fourth person, are waiting anxiously for news of their whereabouts from the Police Service, and I fervently hope the Police Service will respond soon.”
Government, the President reiterated, is determined to help create a security service, including the Police Service, that is professional and efficient in the discharge of its duties.
“Promotions within the service have to be based on merit, and not on political affiliation. The political affiliations of serving officers should manifest themselves only in the polling booth on election day. Once they don the uniform, the population and I expect them to carry out their duties impartially, without any political colouration. That is the basis on which I have proceeded since I assumed office on January 7, 2017,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that the political leanings of any of the commanding officers of the various security agencies, including the Police Service, are not his concern.
“My concern is their ability to deliver. That is the best way we can build a credible security and police system,” the President stressed.