'My administration detests cheating' - IGP

Buipe (N/R), Dec. 4, GNA - The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong said on Saturday that his administration detest cheating and would not compromise with Police personnel who were either indulged or caught in the act.

He said his administration would have no mercy for smugglers when they are caught.

The IGP was speaking with Service Officers and Personnel of the Ghana Police Service at Buipe in the Central Gonja District as part of his 10-day duty tour of Police Stations in the Northern Region. The Chief Staff Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Patrick Timbillah, the Director of Police Public Affairs, Deputy Superintendent of Police, David S. Eklu and the Northern Regional Police Commander, Ephraim Brakatu accompanied the IGP on the tour.

The tour would offer him the opportunity to identify problems facing the personnel. He is also expected to explain the new policies that his administration had instituted to improve upon the service to them.

He will also be meeting with chiefs and politicians in the communities. ACP Timbillah gave the assurance that the new administration would reward service personnel who had distinguished themselves in their work places. Likewise, it would sanctioned those found to be undisciplined. "Don't let us give out our profession to the dogs," ACP Timbillah said and urged them to be courteous to the public, adding: "we must be seen to be serving the public and not lording it over them". "You must also respect the traditions of the people, especially in the communities you operate as a measure to win the confidence of the people and improve relations", he advised.

ACP Timbillah bemoaned the rampant cattle rustling and the menace of the Fulani herdsmen in the communities and warmed that the Police Administration would deal drastically with service personnel found to be conniving with the Fulani herdsmen.

"What we expect of you is to team up with the public to ensure effective policing to enhance peace, law and order in the communities", he said.

The IGP inspected work on a 330 million cedi Police Station funded by the Central Gonja District Assembly at Buipe.

During a courtesy call on the Regent of Buipe, Abubakari Toti, the IGP appealed to the people to take good care of the police so that in unity they would provide the necessary security for the people. Regent Toti assured the IGP that the Police and his people were living peacefully and were of the best relationship, saying, "we cherish our existing relationship more than anything".