Vice-President John Mahama says government is extremely concerned about the high rate of unsolved murders perpetrated by criminals in the country over the years.
He has, therefore, asked the police administration to improve on the detective training of police personnel to reverse the trend.
Speaking at this year’s West African Security Services Social Activity (WASSA) of the police service in Accra, the Vice-President noted that the on-going works on a forensic laboratory and a DNA testing facility for the police would boost crime detection.
“The changing trends in crime calls for a corresponding change in police tactics and strategies,” he said, stressing that government had taken concrete steps this year to empower the police to match up to the sophistication of criminals.
As a first step, he said every district police station would be provided with cross-county vehicles and saloon cars for street patrols and other services; logistics and equipment; communication gadgets, and flak jackets to reduce police casualties.
Vice-President Mahama said plans were far advanced to beef up the number of police personnel from the current ratio of one police officerto 950 citizens to meet the United Nations ratio of one officer to 450 citizens.
He noted that out of the 30,000 housing units for security personnel being put up by STX Engineering and Construction Ghana Limited, the police alone had been allocated 20,000 to solve their acute accommodation needs.
The government had also allocated GH¢6.4 million from the budget to complete 38 abandoned housing projects across the country for police personnel, Mr. Mahama added, saying, the measures were in fulfillment of the road map outlined in the National Policing Plan.
The Vice-President urged the police administration to map out strategies to deal with the rampant road accidents recorded in the country, asking them to ensure that the Highway Code and road safety regulations were applied.
He commended the police for a good work done last year, which he said, had brought peace and stability and had also improved their relations with the civilian population. He also lauded the joint police/military patrols idea as it had also helped in combating crime.
Mr. Mahama noted that the objectives of the two institutions were the same and advised against the occasional tensions that flare up between personnel of the police and the military, which often led to an embarrassment of their respective high commands.
Minister for the Interior Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, also commended the police for its efforts in dealing with crime in the country and advised them against complacency.
He asked police personnel to reciprocate the government’s gesture of resourcing them adequately by exhibiting total commitment to their work and not to do anything to tarnish the image of the service.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, who is the Director-General in charge of Welfare, said last year witnessed several challenges, landmark successes, some notable failures and the loss of several officers in the course of performing their duties.
He said several measures had been instituted to increase police presence on the roads to mitigate the carnage, to better combat crime, and asked for public support.
Some police personnel who distinguished themselves in the course of last year were honoured with the ‘IGP Performance Award’ for their commitment and dedication to duty.
The annual WASSA is an important event in the police service which offers a unique platform for officers and men of the service to come together in an informal atmosphere for fraternizing, stock-taking and strategizing for the ensuing year.
Story: Irene Ata-Donto
11/2/11
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