IGP: We'll not tolerate Cops who foment trouble

Accra, July 13, 2006 - Mr Patrick Kwesi Kwateng Acheampong, Inspector General of Police (IGP), on Thursday warned that Police Officers, who wanted to foment trouble in the Service would not be tolerated.

In an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday, he said his Administration was committed to pursue its statutory role of maintaining law and order for all to go about their businesses without fear or favour.

"I am, therefore, urging all personnel, who genuinely want to help to achieve this cause to come on board accordingly", he said. The IGP said on assumption of office he decided to go against the norm of mass reshuffle that had been the case when any new IGP took office.

Mr Acheampong said there had been attempts by a few Police Officers, who had their own agenda to bring the law enforcement Institution into disrepute by the spreading of rumours and warned that his Administration would never countenance such actions. He said the Administration was aware that such people with personal or group agenda might be using a section of the media to bring the Institution into disrepute but his Administration would faithfully adhere to its statutory role to give Ghanaians the guaranteed security they required in their day-to-day activities. He said he was ready to entertain inquiries from all media houses and advised against publishing half-truths before coming for clarifications.

"People have reputations to protect so our friends in the media should be circumspect in their reportage and should not allow people to use them for their own selfish ends." On the recent publications that a huge sum of money was used to renovate his official residence, he said the Police Estates and Works Department did the estimates for the renovation, adding that the cost was one of the least among the number of bungalows that were being rehabilitated.

He explained that most of the bungalows being renovated were old buildings, some built in the Colonial era and which had not seen any major rehabilitation for over 50 years. Some had wooden floors and asbestos roofing that were caving in and, therefore, had to be changed and the plumbing and electrical systems replaced.

Mr Acheampong said a number of Police barracks and bungalows were being rehabilitated throughout the country after years of neglect. He cited the reconstruction of toilet facilities at the National Headquarters; rehabilitation of the barracks at Cantonments, Teshie and Odorkor in Greater Accra; Nkoranza and Mampong in Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions, respectively.

Others included the rehabilitation of the Winneba Police Training School and barracks and the provision of boreholes and other facilities at the Accra, Kumasi and Tamale Police Training Schools. The rest included the rehabilitation of Inspectors' quarters including that at Yendi in the Northern Region.

On the procurement of tyres and other goods for the Police Service, he said everything was done in accordance with the guidelines of the new Procurement Act and normal Police practice adding that everything was submitted to the Office of the Auditor-General. On the issue of narcotic drugs, Mr Acheampong said the Minister of the Interior, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah had set up a Committee to investigate and that any comment would undermine the Committee's work. The IGP said he found necessary to change an Officers' Mess project at the National Police Headquarters to that of a Staff College because he saw training as the major tool for effective and efficient policing. He said the proximity would facilitate the movement of officers between the College and their offices adding that the College would also train officers of the Prisons, Ghana Immigration and Ghana National Fire Services.

The IGP said other Public Servants could take advantage of the courses that would be run for about 100 personnel annually, adding that an international Commanders' Training Programme in the United Kingdom cost about 15,000 pounds sterling per person.

On the appointment of a Chief Superintendent of Police as the Commandant of the Police College, he said it was not the first time an Officer of that rank had been made to head the College. The IGP denied ever directing that monies should be deducted from salaries of personnel to repair broken down vehicles.

On the granting of leave to Mrs Gifty Annin Botwe, Commissioner in Charge of Welfare, the IGP said Mrs Botwe had never been granted leave to study outside but had just completed a course at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra. The IGP said it was natural for some people to be apprehensive about change and called on his colleagues to come on board to chart a new course for the Service to build on its reputation as one of the best in the world. 13 July 06