Poorly equipped Police Service compromises internal security

Ho, March 28, GNA - The future of Ghana's internal security risked being compromised unless the resource constraints of the Police Service and the welfare of its personnel were vigorously tackled.

This is a challenge that civil society organizations, the citizenry and business community must help government to face up to.

This was the consensus at the Interface Meeting of the Volta Region chapter of the Ghana Network for Peace Building (GHANEP) in Ho on Friday. The Meeting, which deliberated on prevailing security challenges in the region, brought together representatives of some civil society organizations, including representatives from Wa and Tamale, as well as representatives of security agencies in the Volta region. Participants at the Meeting noted that, notwithstanding its professionally crafted security plans and programmes, an ill-equipped and ill-motivated Police Service could not safeguard the country's internal peace and security of its citizenry.

It said under such situations, criminals tended to act with impunity, to the chagrin of the Police and the citizens. The major security challenges identified by the meeting were armed robbery, smuggling, defilement, the growing popularity of marijuana cultivation and the activities of Fulani herdsmen and their destructive activities.

The Participants called on people in positions of influence, such as politicians, to allow the Police to enforce the law without interference. "We deserve public sympathy not constant condemnation, the problems we have are enormous," a Senior Police Officer said.

Mr Justice Bayor, National Network Co-ordinator said civil society organizations and business entities should help government to meet the logistics requirements of the Police Service.

He said a safe and secure environment was required for both corporate and individual citizens to be able to enjoy their rights. Mr Bayor said the responsibility for securing peace and security must be collectively upheld because insecurity does not discriminate. He appealed to the citizenry to volunteer information to the Police to enable them to prevent crimes and to deal with criminals. 28 March 10