New uniform for Police in August - IGP

The Ghana Police Service would outdoor a new uniform in August this year, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) John Kudalor, has said.

Addressing a durbar of the personnel at Wa on the second day of his official visit to the Upper West Region, the IGP said the distribution of the uniforms would start from area.

He reiterated his caution to the personnel of the Service against taking partisan positions in the discharge of their duties in the upcoming general election.

He emphasised that the Police Administration had to be seen as fair and firm in the dispensation of its duties throughout the electioneering process and thereafter.

IGP Kudalor warned that any official whose actions would dent the image of the Service would be, consequently, disciplined severely.

“The 2016 Election is going to be keenly and fiercely contested by all political parties and as the Institution mandated by the Constitution to maintain law and order, it is incumbent upon us to provide the atmosphere of security to enable them to campaign,” he said.

Mr. Kudalor said his visit, dubbed: “Dialogue Series”, was, therefore, part of the Police Administration’s plans and preparations to facilitate a successful election.

“The purpose of the “dialogue is basically to meet the key stakeholders in the upcoming elections on the proactive measures to ensure peaceful elections in November this year,” he said.

The tour, he said, was, thus, targeted at ensuring that all the regions were well prepared in terms of trained personnel and logistics, and urged the Regional Command to replicate the “dialogue series” in the Region.

Earlier, the IGP inspected a simulation exercise at the Wa Jubilee Park and scored his men and women 70 per cent for the performance in respect of crowd control.

IGP Kudalor also inspected some logistics, including bullet proof vests, plastic shots, tear gas grenade hand burst, 48mm hand-throwing smoke tear gas grenade, 37mm and 38mms stopper guns and rubber bullets for AK 47 riffles.

Others are tactical batons, electronic taser/shocker, handcuffs, and pepper spray, torch light, T-Baton, standard crush helmets, ballistic crush helmet and chest protector as well as a fleet of vehicles.

The IGP commended the men and women in the Region for displaying good attitude and said their smart turnout for the programme must be sustained.

IGP Kudalor said the recruitment of police officers would soon be announced, explaining that this time, however, the process was going to be an electronic recruitment to avoid any recruitment malpractice and to restore the integrity of the process.

He said the Police Administration would continue to operate an Open Door Policy, explaining that all those who had brought complaints, so far, had been addressed.

He, therefore, urged them to use the process to address the grievances they also had.

The Upper West Regional Police Commander, Kwesi Mensah Duku, said the Region had three divisions; Lawra, Tumu and Wa, with a staff strength of 1,024.

He said the current strength was, however, inadequate for them to be able to fully cater for the security needs of the entire Region, which comprised 11 political and nine Police districts.

He said the common crime issues in the Region included stealing of motor bikes, cattle rustling and robbery, adding that, the Command was able to put in measures that helped to reduce some of the crimes, especially robbery.