IGP introduces another innovation to enhance services

...Centralizes supervision of guard services

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, in his effort to improve the quality and standards within the Police service, has been furthering innovative measures started by his predecessor, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, since attaining the high office.

The latest in the drift is the IGP’s decision to centralize operations and direction of armed-guard duties, as well as other related services provided- to both private individuals and business organizations, at the police Headquarters.

Although a majority of officers at the various regional, divisional, district commands, as well as stations and posts, are happy about the novelty, a few visionless ones are complaining.

The measure, according to The Informer’s sources within the corridors of the police administration, will help to deal effectively with the numerous complaints forwarded to it by clients and, as well, improve the quality of service delivery.

To ensure proper accountability, the Director-General, Finance, acting on the directives of the Inspector-General, has put in place passable mechanism to ensure that the funds to all commands being monthly payment of salaries and related expenditure are properly accounted for.

The policy, scheduled to be implemented by June this year, will help to address the ineffectiveness and inefficiency that has characterized the operations of services rendered clients.

As part of the innovation, the Police Administration in addition to its decision to centralize activities of armed guard duty, specie, escort and other related services provided its regulars including financial institutions, has put in place a revised service fees and created a monitoring and evaluation unit for the implementation of the policy.

Background

The Ghana Police Service has over the years provided guard duty services on both commercial and non-commercial basis in accordance with Section 34 (1-2) of the Police Service Act 350 of 1970 and Regulation 79 (1-6) of the Constitutional Instrument, (C.I.76).

However, the operational and administrative structures used for delivering the services at the Stations, Districts, Divisions, Regions and National levels are disjoint, ineffective and inefficient; resulting in complaints of unsatisfactory service delivery by clients and subsequent loss of revenue to the Service.

Monitoring and Evaluation Unit

To adequately deal with the numerous challenges that have bedeviled the service in its operation, the Police Administration in its effort to re-package the services offered its clients, has established a Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at the Headquarters with representation in all the regions, mandated to assist in the management of its service delivery.

Revised Fees

The Police Management Board (POMAB) in the last quarter of 2013, obtained approval from the sector ministry for upward review of the fees charged for guard services, so as to ensure that clients pay reasonable fees for better service.

The revised fees communicated to all clients was followed up with a series of meetings by the Police Administration to address the concerns raised by patrons.

In view of that, some Banks decided to amend the number of hours they initially requested for, compelling the Police Administration to comprehensively work out the modalities for its operations.

Centralization of Invoicing and Payments

Subsequent to the establishment of the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, the Police Administration as part of its harmonization process directed the immediate centralization of all invoicing for services offered, with payment made into a designated account at the Headquarters to be managed by the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit.

What it therefore means is that, henceforth, all payments for guard services should be effected strictly by cheques drawn in favour of the Inspector-General of Police paid to the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at the Headquarters.

However, a well mapped disbursement scheme has been worked out within the legal framework with monies accruing from the provision of guard services to be used to cater for the welfare and operational needs of all personnel.