Ghana Police Service gearing up for oil and gas sector

Accra, Nov. 30, GNA - As Ghana anticipates drawing her first oil in the yuletide, the Police administration is also gearing to ensure that securi= ty related issues are decisively dealt with.

Consequently, it is in the process of establishing a Marine Police U= nit to extend police structures and facilities to remote areas within the oil=

and gas zones in the Western Region to address all security concerns that=

might arise in the sector. This was disclosed by Interior Minister, Martin Amidu when he took his turn at the Government's monthly Meet-the-Press series in Accra on Tuesda= y to inform the public on the recent interventions by the Ministry to ensur= e public safety and national security.

He said in addition, the Police administration was holding discussio= ns for the establishment of a Marine Police Training School to train personn= el for the proposed Petroleum and Maritime Police Unit. The Sector Minister disclosed that plans were underway to acquire bo= ats for marine patrols well as a few canoes for marine community policing in the Western Region.

He said the police administration would construct a swimming pool f= or training personnel under the unit.

Mr Amidu announced that the Police administration had developed a five-year Strategic National Policing Plan, which sought to set targets a= nd goals for the service and prescribe the conduct of personnel for the next=

five years.

The Plan aims at developing a professionally competent Police Servic= e through systematic recruitment of qualified and regular training of staff= to establish integrity and fairness in dealing with the public. "The strategic plan would also equip the entire service with adequat= e infrastructure, accommodation, logistics and funds to enhance its operations", he said, adding that government would provide adequate and standardised equipment for effective operations. The event was attended by the top hierarchy of all the security agencies and organisations under the Ministry.