IGP warns serial callers

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, has cautioned users of media platforms to be circumspect in their comments especially as the nation awaits the verdict of the Supreme Court on the 2012 presidential election petition.

Mr Alhassan urged the media to be cautious in the discharge of their duties and users of media platforms particularly serial callers who phone in to express their opinions on television and radio programmes to observe judicious use of words especially after the ruling of the court.

The IGP made the comments Friday during an interaction with a delegation from the National Media Commission.

In recent times, the IGP has been holding a series of meetings with various stakeholders and has so far met with the leaders of religious institutions, traditional rulers and some media outlets.

The latest institutions to meet the top brass of the Ghana Police Service was the National Media Commission which discussed efforts being put in place by the police to sustain the peace of the country.

Mr Alhassan noted that “the police are prepared to sustain the peace that the country is currently enjoying.”

According to him, his outfit together with other security agencies set up joint security operations to monitor events of the country before and during the 2012 general election.

He said the activities of the joint security force has not ceased even after the election and would continue especially as the nation awaits the Supreme Court’s verdict.

He noted that the mission to meet the stakeholders was necessary since the commission had oversight responsibility over the media.

The IGP noted that the police administration recognized the role of the media and has, therefore, created a directorate at the Police headquarters to look at the activities of media operations, noting that it has even started construction of a facility to serve as a media centre for the Police Service.

Touching on crime activities in recent times, he noted that crime pertaining to murder, rape, and armed robbery had reduced slightly according to police records.

He promised that the Police Service would do more to ensure that the crime rate was reduced appreciably in the country.

In line with this, the IGP mentioned that his outfit has introduced a number of innovations including police visibility to make the police accessible to the public and reduce crime.

Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere, chairman of the National Media Commission commended the police for their efforts to sustain peace in the country.

He said recently the commission commenced a project at El as part of efforts to bring about peace.

The project he said brought together various editors of media houses who shared ideas on the role of the media to ensure peace in the country.

On his part, the NMC chairman also appealed to serial callers to be prudent in their comments during phone-in programmes on radio and television stations.

He indicated that though the framers of the 1992 Constitution made provisions for freedom of expression it was not for the media alone but for the public as well.