Police Training School in Kumasi inaugurated

Kumasi, 15 Sept, GNA - Nana Owusu-Nsiah, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP, on Wednesday announced that the government had made payments to the State Housing Company (SHC) to build bungalows for the Ghana Police Service in all the regions. He said 10 bungalows are being constructed each in Accra and Kumasi adding, "Four of these have been completed in Kumasi and are to be handed over to the Police Service tomorrow, September 16, while two of the buildings which are under construction in Accra would be completed and handed over to the Service before the end of the year".

Nana Owusu-Nsiah who was inaugurating the Police Training School in Kumasi, said the SHC had given the assurance that all the buildings would be completed by the end of the year. He also said the target of the Police Service was to put up a buildings that could support the training of at least 200 people at a time.

The IGP said: "Consequently, new dormitory and classroom blocks are to be constructed immediately at the Kumasi Police Training School grounds", the IGP added. Nana Owusu-Nsiah said human resource development was vital for the country's progress and promised that the Police Service would work towards improving the performance of the police to ensure the maintenance of peace and order. He observed that there was a population of about 3,650,000 people in the Kumasi metropolis as against only 2,500 policemen and women with a ratio of 1.1,460, adding that there was the need to therefore increase the number of police stations at all cost in the metropolis as early as practicable.

The IGP said the Consolidated Democratic and Government Programme (CDGP), a non-governmental organisation, has donated 300 million cedis towards the procurement of teaching aids including computers and rehabilitation of buildings and toilets for the police. Nana Owusu-Nsiah appealed to individuals, traditional rulers, corporate bodies and organisations to donate generously towards the provision of accommodation and the expansion of training facilities for the police personnel.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, commended the police for maintaining peace and order in the country. He said government had for the past three-and-half years pursued capacity building programmes for the police which has so far improved the resource and manpower capacity of the personnel. Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo said: "Your material and moral assistance to the Ghana Police Service and your contribution towards the general security of the state will forever be cherished and this will enhance the credibility of the police".

Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, noted that the inauguration of the Police Training School coincided with the passing out of 80 policemen and 20 policewomen after their six-month training in Kumasi. He expressed the hope that the training of the police would enable them to acquire the requisite skills so that they could contribute effectively to the promotion of good governance.

Oheneba Adusei Poku, Akyempimhene who represented Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, expressed concern about attacks on police stations and personnel in the course of discharging their duties by irresponsible people and called on Ghanaians to support the police so that the could ensure peace and order. Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwaatia, Bantamahene, on behalf the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs pledged 10 million cedis towards improving facilities at the Police Training School in Kumasi.