Police need 3 years training not 3 months – Full Gospel President

Government has been urged to totally reform the recruitment process that get people enlisted into the Ghana Police Service, and possibly extend the duration personnel spend in police training school.

Rt. Rev. Samuel N. Mensah, President of Full Gospel Church International who made the call is suggesting police personnel spend years in school instead of months.

In a statement, Rev. Mensah said putting in place a proper recruitment process to get the right people into the service would help curtail the “unfortunate incidences” of personnel misconducting themselves.

“In my view, I think the duration for the training is woefully inadequate to provide us the quality of Policing we need as a country.

“I therefore propose that the current system of three (3) — nine (9) months should critically be reviewed to either two (2) or three (3) years in order to sufficiently equipped personnel before they are passed out.”

His comments follow last week’s brutal treatment a woman carrying two months old baby was subjected to by policeman at a banking hall.

Recounting similar atrocities meted out to civilians over the years, the man of God wants the leadership of the police academies to seriously focus on improving police-civilian relationship.

Resource

Rev. Samuel N. Mensah is also advocating that the Ghana Police Service is provided with adequate resources to make the institution more effective in their operations.

“The average Police officer must have all the necessary equipment and gadgets to fight crime. In achieving this, for the past ten (10) years, I have been calling on the government to introduce what I termed ‘Security Fund’ (SECFUND) where a portion of the tax collected can be deposited to fund the retooling, training and resourcing of the Police Service to raise their standard to international best practice.”

He however employed citizens to be law abiding and avoid any lawlessness and indiscipline acts that may “trigger negative rebuttal from the police”.

“I believe the time has come for us to go beyond the rhetoric and find lasting solutions to the fundamental problems in the Police Service and our lawlessness and indiscipline in the country.”