Personnel of the Ghana Police Service assigned to mining companies have received a directive to uphold professionalism and adhere to the Service’s code of ethics while performing their duties.
Chief Director of Analysis, Research, and Finance at the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Christopher Opoku Nyarko, emphasized the importance of respecting the fundamental human rights of community members in their operational areas.
Mr Nyarko conveyed these instructions during an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at a training workshop organized by the Chamber.
The workshop, held at the Ghana Police Command and Staff College in Winneba, gathered 150 police personnel.
Mr Nyarko highlighted that such training sessions, conducted periodically in collaboration with the Police Service, aim to safeguard the assets of mining companies and enhance the overall service delivery of deployed personnel.
“This is the reason we brought a team comprising the Chamber Legal Person, Madam Sheila Minkah Premo, and some operational officers from the mines led by the chairman of the Chamber Security Committee,” he said.
Facilitators such as Edwin Asare from Goldfields Ghana Limited, Madam Theresa Abrema Obosu, Senior Administrative Officer at AngloGold Ashanti, and Martin Baah Awhireng, Security Manager at Perseus Mining Company Limited, provided insights during the workshop.
They covered topics such as the Minerals and Mining Act, ethical considerations in mining operations, voluntary principles on security and human rights, and responses to security threats in mining areas.
The training underscored the importance of collaboration between external and internal security personnel for effective joint operations.
Participants were encouraged to report any challenges they encounter to the appropriate authorities for prompt resolution.
DSP Moses Gyan Mpettey, Staff Officer Operations, conveyed gratitude on behalf of the Inspector General of Police to the organizers of the training.
He expressed confidence that the newly acquired knowledge and skills would enable the police personnel to contribute effectively to maintaining order in the operational areas of the mining companies.