Boost for Police Service and other security agencies

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - The morale of personnel of the Ghana Police Service is to receive a boost as government has resolved to improve their conditions of service and increase resources to the institution in the coming months.

As part of the move, the Ministry of the Interior has been tasked to review the pay structure and inject more resources, particularly logistics, to make the service more effective in its principal role. This was disclosed when the newly appointed Interior Minister, Mr Kwamena Bartels called at the Police Headquarters in Accra on Thursday, as part of a tour of agencies under the Ministry to acquaint himself with their work.

These agencies include the Police, Immigration, Prisons and Fire Services, the Narcotics Control Board and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Mr Bartels, who was accompanied by his predecessor, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, who now heads the Defence Ministry, told the top hierarchy of the Police Service that he was committed to ensuring that the institution was put on the right pedestal to guarantee a better security situation for the country and its people.

"Ghana's claim of being an oasis of peace could not have been achieved without the unreserved dedication to service of the Ghana Police," he said.

"You have so far achieved this stint with excellence. It is not for nothing that Ghana lays claims to this, because whilst others slept, you stayed awake to ensure that you safeguarded life and property." He added that a lot more, however, needed to be done by the Police Service to make society recognize their efforts at making the country a safe haven.

The Minister expressed disquiet about the spate of gruesome crimes within the past few months and exhorted personnel of the service to work harder to ensure security for the people.

"I know you have the expertise and zeal to help maintain the peaceful condition in the country and I trust the service to surmount the situation."

He pledged his unflinching support to the service, as his predecessor did, saying, "I come as a partner to assist you to achieve your purpose."

Mr. Bartels said as the CAN 2008 approached the Police Service would be adequately resourced with personnel carriers and riot control gear to ensure security during and after the event.

Mr Kan-Dapaah expressed appreciation to the Service for the level of loyalty and cooperation extended to him during his tenure. This, he said, offered him the opportunity to better understand challenges facing the service and commended the hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment that officers of the institution put into their work despite logistics constraints.

He said Ghana had had to make hard decisions to maintain macro-economic stability.

"This was necessary in order the get the economic fundamentals right even though a lot of Ghanaians were affected by it.

"But now that we have it right (economic fundamentals), the only thing that can stop the goals set for ourselves is the lack of peace.

"It is the cardinal duty of the police to ensure the sustenance of peace and stability, which are very essential to our development...And I am confident the police are capable of doing this." He called on them to cooperate effectively with Mr Bartels to move the Service forward.

Inspector-General of Police, Mr Patrick Acheampong pledged the Service's loyalty and support to the Minister. The Minister, who paid similar calls at the other agencies commended them for their output even under conditions such as lack of equipment and poor conditions of service. He told the various agencies that government was poised to better their lot, as a number of incentives and equipment peculiar to their line of duty were in the offing to enhance their work. The heads of the institutions pledged their support for the new minister.