Police to get crime fighting equipment - Nanfuri

Accra (Greater Accra) 7 April ?99

Mr Peter Nanfuri, Inspector-General of Police said on Tuesday that the government is equipping the police with modern crime fighting equipment to enable it to match criminals boot for boot. He was speaking on "The role of the police service in promoting law and order towards the consolidation of Ghana's democracy", at a symposium organised by the Political Science Students Association (POSSA) of the University of Ghana to mark its 22nd annual week celebrations.

He said investigations into the recent upsurge in murders and robberies showed that they were committed by foreigners who practice instant justice in their countries. They have shifted their activities to Ghana where the law is more refined, he said and warned the public against meting out instant justice to suspects. "The Ghana police would like to arrest such criminals from whom the police can know how they operate so that they can be dealt with according to law.? Mr Nanfuri said the public is sometimes apprehensive about the mounting of police barriers although such operations have led to the arrest of robbers, kidnappers and the seizure of arms and ammunition. He urged the public, especially journalists, to report any police man who misbehave. He said the police service is taking severe disciplinary action against policemen who trade information to suspects and urged the public, especially, journalists to report any policeman who they find to be mis-conducting himself. He appealed to the public to assist in providing some of the needs of the service saying they should also give information to the police to help them maintain law and order. Mr Larry Bimi, Chairman of the National Commission of Civic Education (NCCE), urged the Ministry of Education to include civic education in the curriculum of second cycle schools and higher institutions. Speaking on "Education as a tool for promoting law and order and for enhancing Ghana's democracy", Mr Bimi said suspicion, mistrust and corruption must be done away with to generate confidence in the body politic for democracy to survive. He called for education to enable the electorate to exercise their franchise and to make an informed choice. Professor Mike Ocquaye. Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, who spoke on "The Penal system versus Lawlessness in Ghana", called for revision of the country's laws to reflect the realities of the day. He criticised the often-hostile attitude of the public towards the police and called on the public not to take the law into their hands.