The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Nana Owusu-Nsiah, has observed that the blatant public defiance of police orders the attacks on personnel and stations of the Police Service will not stop, if personnel do not change some of their tactics and habits that impact negatively on the image of the service.
Although the IGP condemned such attacks and their attendant loss of to lives and distraction of property, he noted, ‘We are a contributory factor to these unfortunate attacks.”
The IGP, who was speaking at his maiden meeting with officers and men of the Police Service in Kumasi on Thursday, how ever, stated that the police have a duty to protect themselves when they come under attack.
He urged the personnel to make discipline their watchword, without which the foundations of the service will crumble.
Nana Owusu-Nsiah said acts like bribery, corruption and extortion, which tarnish the image of the police, should be a thing of the past, warning that anyone caught in any of such acts will be severely punished.
The IGP commended the government for taking steps to address some of the numerous problems of the service within the relatively short period of two years that it has been in power.
He disclosed that 400 vehicles were delivered to the police last year; while efforts are underway to improve capacity building this year.
Nana Owusu-Nsiah said the government has given approval for the Ghana Police Service to increase its numerical strength from the current 16,000 to 20,000 by 2004. Consequently, the police administration will recruit 2,000 personnel this year and the same number next year.
He said what government expects from the police is professional conduct and loyalty.
He promised to do everything possible for the police to clamp down on armed robbery and indiscipline in the society.
Nana Owusu-Nsiah called on officers and men to change their attitudes towards complainants at the police stations.
“Often some few irresponsible officers in charge offices make life very difficult for complainants and rather tend to pamper suspects,” he said.
The IGP said in a bid to promote police- media relations, his administration has instituted monthly media briefings by the Police Public Relations Unit and urged the regional police commands to take up the challenge.
Besides, he said, he has also made it a policy to hold quarterly press briefing sessions with the media.
Welcoming the IGP, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Ashanti, Mr. George Asiamah commended him for the good work he is doing.
He stressed the need for the disengagement of police personnel on Operation Gong-Gong in the Northern Region and Buoyem in the Brong Ahafo Region since the security situation in those areas has improved.
He said his outfit is under pressure to close down the Bompata Police Station since the landlord is threatening to eject the personnel over unpaid rent. He called for the establishment of a forensic laboratory in Kumasi to cater for the northern sector.
Mr. Asiamah gave the assurance that in spite of the problems facing personnel in the region, they will continue to perform their constitutional responsibilities
