Government to equip Ghana Police Service with vehicles

The Government is to provide the Ghana Police Service with 1000 vehicles before the 2012 Election to help improve upon service delivery, Mr. Paul Quaye, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has announced.

Mr. Quaye said so far, 125 of the vehicles had been received and distribution would be made soon to the regions, districts and divisional units to enable the police to maintain law and order and protect life and property.

The IGP announced these at a meeting with personnel of the Ghana Police Service in Wa on Tuesday, as part of his two-day working visit to the Upper West Region, to interact with police personnel there.

He said time has come for the Police Service to make thorough assessments and analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; and design a road-map to prevent crime and promote security.

Mr. Quaye said the Police Service had developed a Five-year strategic national policing plan, spanning from 2010 to 2014, which spelt out the vision and mission of the Service.

He said the document sought to help make the Ghana Police Service a world-class police service, using democratic policing principles and best practices for the execution of its statutory objectives.

Mr. Quaye called on the police to support “Change Management Teams” to enable the service to achieve the defined targets of attaining world class policing standards to reduce crime.

The IGP announced that the Ghana Police Service had rolled out programmes and courses for personnel of the various ranks, as well as basic detective training courses for crime officers, to deal with cyber crime, intelligence gathering and anti-human trafficking.

On image rebuilding, Mr. Quaye noted that the actions and inactions of a few personnel had brought the name of the service into disrepute and cited persistent allegations of bribery, corruption, extortion and other forms of unprofessional conduct.

He said, “I want to caution all and sundry that we will not renege on our uncompromising commitment to rid the service of all those who willfully engage themselves in activities that bring dishonour to the service.

“In the same vein, dedicated and devoted personnel who commit genuine mistakes in the course of performing their lawful duties will receive the full support of my administration.”

Mr. Kofi Danso-Akyeampong, the Upper West Regional Police Commander, complained to the IGP about the inadequate number of personnel, vehicles, office equipment, official and residential accommodation among other challenges facing the service.

He said motor traffic accidents were one of the major causes of death in the region with 76 deaths and 284 recorded last year.**