Police to divide country into 5 operational posts

The Ghana Police Service is considering dividing the country into five operational command posts to tackle armed robbery, chieftaincy disputes and other crimes.

The concept is under discussion and soon the modalities would be worked out. Nana Stephen Owusu Nsiah, Inspector General of Police (IGP), said this yestrday when he interacted with personnel of the service at Tema during an official visit.

The Police Administration will soon present a paper to the Police Council for onward transmission to the government on the proposed structure.

The Southern Command will comprise Accra/Tema, Western/Central regions will come under Western Command. Ashanti Command takes care of Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Volta regions will come under Eastern Command, while the Northern, Upper East and West regions fall under the Northern Command.

Nana Nsiah appealed to estate developers to provide structures for police stations and barracks to ensure that the communities have access to the police.

He said proposals would be presented to the Council for submission to government to prevail on municipal and district assemblies to name streets to facilitate mobile police patrols.

Nana Nsiah said more personnel would be recruited and police posts would be created at "strategic areas". In the short term however, police vehicles will be placed at vantage points and on the highways to ensure quick response to emergency calls. In addition night patrols will be increased.

Nana Nsiah said the Service would soon come out with a policy on transfers, promotions and study leave. He added that the mandatory demand that personnel serve for 12 years before study leave is granted, will be reviewed.

He said the policy by which Police Constables are not allowed to go on United Nations Peacekeeping Missions would also be reviewed.

On indiscipline on the roads, the IGP said checking of drivers is not limited to the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU); any "police personnel could arrest road offenders".

He called for the promotion of the neighbourhood watchdog concept to ensure peace in communities.

Mrs Agnes Sikanartey, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), said cases of armed robbery have reduced considerably while labour and chieftaincy matters are under control in the municipality.