In order to enhance its standing in the public eye and improve its reputation, the Ghana Police Service is putting into action plans to root out and expel from the force dishonest individuals and lawbreakers who pose as police officers.
Director-General at the National Patrols Department of the Ghana Police Service, Mr Paul Manly Awini revealed this at the passing out parade of the 2022-second batch of 230 police recruits at the Ghana Police Service Training School, Tesano, Accra on Friday September 16, 2022.
“Police administration, in pursuit of this avowed aim, will not countenance any acts of bribery, extortion, corruptible activities and worse of all, Police personnel involvement in violent crimes such as robbery.”
COP Awini expressed optimism that the recruits would work hard, be disciplined, and serve as true ambassadors of the current policing training model.
The Director-General of the National Patrols Department noted that emerging crimes such as terrorism, cyber-related crimes, changes in the modus operandi of criminals had been a challenge to the service.
According to him, “these have translated into an increased demand on the personnel of the Ghana police service to deliver services that were more diverse, complex, skilled, and specialized to deal with the current crime trend.”
He said that explained why the Inspector General of Police had introduced a paradigm shift in recruits’ training modules and the service was changing its focus in policing in the country.
Some of the modules he mentioned included; police accountability, adherence to human rights standards, ethical conduct of personnel, abhorrence to corruption, client management, and customer care.
COP Awini said the police administration had also introduced some soft skills to complement the field and practical activities.
He mentioned those activities as riding, driving, swimming, crowd control, incident and disaster management, radio communication, arrest, and search procedures.
COP observed that the increase in police motorbike patrols introduced in recent times had reduced the fear of crime and incidence of crime.
“Very soon you will see the intensification of the Police motorbike patrols at every nook and cranny of the country as part of measures to revitalize Police visibility and accessibility patrols.”
On terrorism, COP Awini said the act had become a global threat,
adding some neighbouring countries had experienced some form of terrorist attack.
“We cannot, therefore, fold your arms and wait for the worst to happen. It has, thus, become imperative to prepare our personnel to adequately respond to this threat.”
Policewoman Recruit Gifty Boahemaa Kwapong was adjudged the overall National Best Recruit, while Samuel Adu Bechie emerged as the best Graduate Recruit.
Nine recruits were given various awards such as Best Drivers, Best in Conduct, and others.
Source: The Independent Ghana