Police will have to recruit 25,000 personnel if 24-hour economy is implemented – Former CID boss

A former Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, COP Bright Oduro (Rtd), has said that the police will have to recruit 25,000 personnel to run the 24-hour economy smoothly.

The former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, is proposing to introduce a 24-hour economy in Ghana.

He calls it a game changer and believes that it may solve several challenges in Ghana, including unemployment, which has now reached a worrying stage.

Speaking at a forum, the former CID boss (COP), Bright Oduro (Rtd), indicated that the police will have to improve its staff strength if the policy is implemented.

"It will require a massive recruitment effort that will potentially bring the police population ratio, which is now about one policeman per 800 citizens, to 1 to 500 citizens, or even better. An additional massive recruitment of 25,000 will be needed to top up the present police strength of about 42,000 and to make up the UN minimum ratio of 1 to 500," he said.

On logistics, he indicated that the police logistical base needs to improve to help the police do their part in the implementation of the 24-hour economy.