Police recruits pass out at Ho

Ho, April 20, GNA - Mr Selwyn Mettle, Commissioner of Police in-Charge of Technical Services on Friday reminded police personnel that the Ghana Police Service was neither a gold mine nor an illegal drug cartel.

He warned that the Police Administration would deal drastically with any police personnel found guilty of any wrongdoing. Mr Mettle gave the warning when addressing the passing out parade of 158 police recruits at the Volta Regional Police Training School at Ho.

He advised the recruits to disabuse their minds of the desire to use the service "to get rich quick".

"You will spare yourself and your families trouble if you keep within the bounds of service instructions," he added. Mr Mettle observed that the country's growth rate in crime was due to its economic growth, social prosperity and increase in human population.

He said it was therefore; not surprising that after 50 years of independence and economic progression, the country was grappling with sophisticated and " white collar crimes" including violent crimes such as armed robbery, murder and injury to human life and property. "Today, advance-fee fraud, forgery of bank documents, depriving unsuspecting persons of their property have taken hold on the youth," he said.

Mr Mettle said those were issues everyone irrespective of the status in society must try to solve, adding "The country would fail in crime combat if society left the problem to the police and other law enforcement agencies".

He advised the recruits not to abuse the power vested in them by law but use it to help people in need of their services and pursue with tenacity of purpose those who infringed the law. Mr Mettle urged them to be tolerant in all situations and maintain their "cool" in times of temptation adding, "A policeman who loses his temper cannot be a problem solver". Police Constable Gabriel Ametame from Agbozume was adjudged the overall best recruit for the senior squad while Recruit Eninn Okyere topped the junior squad. Each was presented with a baton of honour. 20 April 07