Nana Stephen Owusu-Nsiah, Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Tuesday urged the media to be circumspect in publishing sensitive issues pertaining to the Service to avoid exposing it to public ridicule.
"I have indicated time and again that security considerations make it imperative to make thorough enquiries before certain information is brought to the knowledge of the public, otherwise it may end up undermining the very security and stability we are clamouring for."
The IGP, who was interacting with journalists at the second quarterly meeting for the year between the Police administration and the media in Accra said, "whatever comes your way without the necessary verification and explanation from the appropriate authority may end up creating some rancour or discord in either the administrative or operational set up of the Service".
Nana Owusu-Nsiah noted that one major problem facing the Police was the issue of anonymous letters from certain police personnel to the media. He said "some service members have formed the habit that at the least chance they will leak vital information they come across to the press.
Others too prefer to send their complaints to the press instead of using the available means within the service." He appealed to the media to rest their quest to release such exclusive stories first before seeking official reactions to the subject matter.
He said his administration would continue to maintain the cordial relationship with the media for effective peace, order and stability in the country. On the general security situation as at March this year, the Police Chief said it has improved with a decline in crime wave of all kinds by 18.4 percent as compared to the same period last year.
The cases under reference included murders, armed robberies, rape, defilement and the possessing of narcotics. He said a measure adopted by the police has paid off well in stemming crimes in the city.
He said moves to redeem the image of the service were yielding some results although there were a few bad nuts in the system. The IGP noted that training of personnel was systematically being carried out and that the public-police co-operation was encouraging and has led to the apprehension of a lot of criminals, especially armed robbers.
Nana Owusu-Nsiah announced that government has given approval for the service to recruit 4,000 more personnel to beef up the 20,000 policemen by the 2004 The IGP said the government with assistance from the Chinese government has secured funds for provision of barracks at the National Police Training School to ease the accommodation problem of the Service.
