Mills warns against complacency in combating crime

Accra, Dec. 11, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday commended the Ghana Police Service for working hard to reduce crime in recent times.

He however urged them not to be complacent in combating crime and criminal activities.

He stressed that the successes chalked out so far in dealing with crime should not engender any false feeling of complacency and contentedness. Addressing a colourful and smart turn out of the 42nd Cadet Officers Graduation ceremony of the Ghana Police College in Accra, President Mills expressed Government's support to the Service for combating crime, especially armed robbery.

"I must say Government is extremely pleased with the way the Police Service is combating crime headlong, especially armed robbery, and I commend the IGP (Inspector General of Police) and his team for the work being done," President Mills said.

The President conferred the Presidential Commission on the 128 graduates, including 15 women, and four from the Liberia National Police. The Commission grants the Cadet Officers entry into the Senior Officer Corps of the Police Service, with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police in their respective countries after six month's training at the Ghana Police College at Tesano in Accra.

The President told the gathering, witnessed by the IGP, the top hierarchy of the Service, ministers of state and relatives of the graduates that there must be no room for criminals to operate with impunity. President Mills said it was the resolve of Government to ensure that all officers and men of Ghana's Security Services were given the requisite training relevant to the professional discharge of their duties. Government is also working assiduously towards improving the necessary logistics to enable the Service function at an optimal level.

President Mills assured the Officers and Men of the Police Service that Government's commitment to boosting their morale would not be short-lived. He added that Government supported the Police Administration's Strategic Policy Initiative to train and retrain personnel to constantly build capacity to be abreast of modern methods of law-enforcement.

"As a nation, we cannot afford to rely on outdated methods of law enforcement. "Government therefore totally supports the Police Administration's drive to make training and re-training a top priority," President Mills said.

He observed that there was a renewed sense of confidence in the manner in which the Police Service was operating and urged the new officers to join the IGP and the Police Administration to continue to give a new positive image to the Service.

President Mills directed the IGP and the Police High Command to put in place adequate proactive measures and specialised units to deal with criminals that would emerge as a result of the oil find. The President, who was once the Chairman of the Ghana Police Council, gave a pat on the shoulders of the Ghana Police personnel on peace-keeping missions at the UN and the AU International Peace Keeping operations in various parts of the world, especially Darfur.

"Government is committed to re-sourcing the Security Services to carry out their mandated tasks and continue to bring glory to Ghana, President Mills said. He added that Government was also taking pragmatic and concrete steps to provide more suitable accommodation to the Police Service.

President Mills reiterated, as stated in the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that Government would not compromise on tackling the illicit drug trade, and called on the Police to continue to be engaged in the exercise of making Ghana an unattractive destination for the trade. The President asked the new officers to be impartial, non partisan, firm and fair in the execution of their duties, and be leaders who would inspire their subordinates. Cadet Officer John Atanga was adjudged the best at the parade, which was under the command of Cadet Officer Emmanuel Dade.