Sunyani, Aug. 4, GNA - Mr Peter Nanfuri, Inspector General of Police (IGP), on Thursday announced that the government of China has agreed to assist the Ghana Police Service to rehabilitate and expand its barracks, most of which are in deplorable state.
He did not, however, give the amount involved or when the project would take off. He said the assistance would help give the barracks the much-needed facelift and even lead to the construction of new ones.
Mr Nanfuri was speaking to newsmen in Sunyani after decorating 66 policemen and officers with June 4 medals.
The decoration is in recognition of the contributions made by the police to the birth and sustenance of the June 4 revolution.
Mr Nanfuri noted that though the police service is constrained logistically, that should not be a licence for policemen to perform below standards.
He, therefore, charged them to regard the recent serial murders in Accra and the general rise in the crime rate in the country as challenges to their profession and resolve to bust the culprits.
"We must be inspired by the medals we are receiving today to prove to the criminals and the general public, whose taxes pay our salaries, that we are indeed professionals by causing the arrest of all those behind these heinous crimes.
Mr Nanfuri appealed to the public to volunteer information on criminals and cautioned the police to conduct themselves in a manner that would entice civilians to give them tip-offs.
"It is only by eschewing bribery, corruption and undue aggressive postures that the public will feel convinced to approach us with information that will enable us to nip crime in the bud".
On the implementation of the Justice Archer Committee's Report on the Police service, the IGP said the police administration and the Ghana Police Council are taking steps to hasten the implementation of its recommendations.
He said already the salary levels of the service is being improved whilst the Police Council is liaising with the government to mobilise the needed resources to enhance the conditions of service.
Mr Nanfuri also dismissed the recent public outburst on his order for the removal of flags and banners of political parties from all ceremonial routes in Accra.
Stressing that his order has basis in law, he said the festoons of the various parties adorning ceremonial routes constitute a public nuisance and risk to driving, and for, which the police is empowered by Act 29 to cause their removal.
He commended GHACEM for donating 20 million cedis for the repairs of some of the Service's 80 broken down vehicles and appealed to other corporate bodies to come forward to complement government's efforts on ensuring adequate logistical support to the police.
