Seven billion cedis needed to repair Police vehicles

Over seven billion cedis would be required to repair at least 200 police vehicles grounded nationwide and replace obsolete communication equipment at the Police Control Room.

This came to light on Wednesday during a tour by newsmen to some facilities of the Ghana Police Service in Accra. The tour took journalists to the Communications School, the Police Workshop and the Police Training School.

The Communications School was established in 1970 to train operators, telephonists, and technicians but it has not been operational since 1999 when a rehabilitation exercise was abandoned midstream.

At the main telephone exchange there were only two consuls instead of the 20 required, making it difficult for outsiders to get through with their calls.

"Every caller would have to wait for his turn since calls are taken on first come first served basis", said Augustine Sewoatsri, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of communications.

He said the service would require about eight million French Francs to buy modern equipment to replace the over 20 years old system.

Mr Sewoatri said the new equipment, which could serve Accra and Tema, would have about 2,000 extensions and could take 150 input lines.

" The Police are efficient but are not being effective due to lack of equipment." He said though transportation was important for Police work, communication was the most vital.

Mr Sewoatsri urged the public to come to the aid of the service for it to play its vital role of securing the environment for all to go about their duties peacefully. At the Police Workshop it was established that the Police has 538 vehicles nation wide out of which 245 have broken down.

Mr Emmanuel Gali of the Mechanical Division said that up to 45 million cedis would be required to repair each one of the Land Rovers or Nissan Patrols that have been in the workshops over the years.

He said funds released for maintenance was so meagre that it could cater for just a few vehicles. Superintendent Yaagy Akuribah, Commanding Officer of the Training School, said it has inadequate facilities that were being over stretched.

" Most of the facilities were made for a smaller number than we have now. For example, 30 trainees are using dormitories meant for 15."

Mr Akuribah said the school has no library. The foundation for one initiated by the current Inspector General of Police in 1976 when he was the Commanding Officer of the school is deteriorating.

He said the school has no common room for lecturers and no computer for the trainees to study the basics of computing. "It is simply not in the curriculum."

Also, there is no dining hall for the trainees. Tables are set outside with no chairs and they stand in the open to eat their meals.