President Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries with some of the Police Personnel at the WASSA last Friday
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has charged the police to be politically neutral in the performance of their duties.
He said it is in the interest of all for the police to maintain the neutrality and professionalism guaranteed under the Constitution.
“Governments have term limits and in a multi-party democracy such as ours, parties win and lose power. It is therefore good for the health of the nation.
“This is why the police should not be made to tie their well-being or otherwise to the fortunes of the ruling party of the day,” Nana admonished.
He made this charge at the annual get-together of the Police Service known in security circles as West Africa Security Service Association (WASSA).
The ceremony also attracted other service chiefs, ministers, members of the police management board, musicians, the media, among others.
This tradition affords the police, its leadership and personnel the opportunity to reflect on their performances and how best they can be improved upon in the coming year.
He said as president, together with the leadership of the Police Service, he would ensure that the police are left to focus on their core mandate and not be an appendage of his government.
“I want the Service to go about its duties and I assure you that there will be no interference from any party whatsoever,” he assured.
President Akufo-Addo promised that his government would ensure the continuous recruitments into the Service with the aim of meeting the United Nations ratio of one policeman to 500 citizens.
Speaking with ardor, he said currently, the Police Service suffers lower public image than they should have, and urged them to work hard to regain the trust of the people.
On development and infrastructure, Ppresident Akufo-Addo informed the police hierarchy that plans were underway for the construction of two police hospitals in the Upper East and the Brong-Ahafo Regions to serve personnel in those areas and beyond.
“We also have the intention of building two new police training schools, all this with the view to improving the quality of the Service,” maintained.
President Akufo-Addo hinted of plans to retain the Inspector General of Police when the Council of State is finally inaugurated.
He also urged the personnel to strictly enforce the laws on the roads to reduce carnages that have been claiming lives.
The Inspector General of Police, Mr David Asante Apeatu, in an address, said the Ghana Police Service is currently ranked seventh major contributor of experts and Formed Police Units in the world and 3rd most contributor in Africa.
He said the Service is currently faced with security challenges like armed robbery, petty stealing, avoidable road clashes, communal clashes and the recent upsurge in mob actions; which he said undermine their efforts to provide safe environment for all.
“I want to assure you that those who perpetrate these acts of lawlessness will be pursued and smoked out to face the full rigours of the law,” the IGP asserted.
Mr Apeatu said, “My administration will review and restructure key elements of the Service, provide the state-of-the-art policing tools, pursue comprehensive capacity building programmes while recruiting critical skills, improve police/public ratio and create more police stations in our fast developing communities.”
The Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, said government would facilitate the provision of incentives to motivate the police and other security agencies.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
(Lindatenyah@gmail.com)