Three hundred and forty-four (344) newly commissioned officers of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) graduated from the Police Academy yesterday.
They included 260 males and 84 females, with Frank Kwaku Fialor adjudged the best all-round cadet.
Vice President Bawumia, who commissioned the officers, said government will support the expedited roll-up of the digital solution tools of the Ghana Police Service across the country. That, he said, would help stem the tide of the increasing preventable crashes with its attendant damage to property, injuries to persons as well as fatalities.
He described as refreshing, the fact that the police administration has made strides in leveraging on the ongoing government digitisation and digitalisation agenda to strengthen its reforms initiatives, to meet contemporary policing aspirations and improve law enforcement.
Frank Kwaku Fialor, who was adjudged the overall best cadet officer of the course 52 group, was presented with a sword of honour.
According to the Vice President, the police has been a credible institution in the provision of internal security in the democratic journey of the country since independence, stressing that their long experiences and professionalism would once again be called upon when the nation goes to the polls, come December 2024.
“As you graduate from here, much will be expected of you to support and maintain the long-standing professionalism in providing the needed security before, during and after the elections in the communities that you will be deployed,” he emphasised.
He further stressed on the commitment of government to resource the Police Service to enable it continue to play its constitutional role of maintaining law and order for all citizens to go about their businesses without let or hindrance.
In the light of that commitment, he said, construction of additional infrastructure such as lecture rooms, ultra-modern auditorium and residential accommodation is nearing completion at the academy. That, he explained, was intended to improve teaching and learning and to adequately accommodate the increasing number of officers admitted to the academy.
He also disclosed that the government would continue to support the decentralisation efforts of the Formed Police Unit (FPU) across the country, and added that so far over 122 bases had been established across the country.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent