President Akufo-Addo has commissioned 1,500 motorbikes for use by the Ghana Police Service, assuring them of more in the coming days.
“I assure the police administration that this is just the beginning. More and more motorbikes will come in soon…,” he assured.
The government’s presentation to the service was made on Monday, August 15, 2022 at the Police headquarters yesterday.
Before officially handing over the logistics to the Inspector General of Police for onward distribution to his offices across the nation, President Akufo-Addo said the presentation was a further affirmation of his government’s commitment to provide the service with the necessary logistics it requires for the discharge of its mandate.
“Our gathering here this morning is yet a further affirmation of the commitment of the Akufo-Addo government to provide the Police Service with the necessary logistics it requires to help the Service continue to effect its mandate of maintaining law and order and protecting lives and property,” he remarked.
He said the most important thing for the nation are the peace and safety of its people and its territorial integrity, adding that when these are guaranteed, citizens can go about their lives in security.
This, among others, is the reason the government continues to cooperate with the police to ensure it is adequately resourced to protect the nation and its people at all times.
POLICE EFFORTS NOTICED
The President indicated that the government was fully aware of the efforts being put in place by the Police Service under the current IGP and management board.
The efforts, he explained, are to intensify targeted operations in communities that were hitherto notorious for heinous crimes.
He added that special teams have been trained and positioned at defined locations to make it difficult, if not impossible, for criminals to have a field day.
“I commend wholeheartedly these strides made by the police,” President Akufo-Addo added.
MANPOWER BOOST
Commenting on the ongoing program by the police to boost its manpower needs, President Akufo-Addo noted that the exercise was necessary for the bold intervention launched by the police to improve its service delivery.
He announced that the government last year gave approval for the police to recruit 5000 officers, out of which 3000 have passed out, with the remaining still under training.
The President observed that these officers, the first batch of officers to benefit from the modified police training curriculum, focused on equipping the police officers with skills in driving, swimming, and motorbike riding, among others.
“That is why I am happy to hand over these 1500 motorbikes to the Police Service to further urge the service to continue with the good work it is doing to keep all of us safe.
I am confident that these bikes will be put to very good use and they will reach the communities who need them most,” Akufo-Addo asserted.
INTERIOR MINISTER
The Minister for The Interior, Ambrose Dery, in his remarks praised the President for retooling the police service.
He referred to their 2016 manifesto that then candidate promised to do everything possible to protect the country, adding that there was a promise to make the police more professional.
According to him, security was a backburner, but President Akufo-Addo brought it ahead because he knew that it was a necessary precondition for his economic transformation agenda he was pursuing.
“Today, I can say, having been granted the privilege by His Excellency to be the Minister of The Interior, that I have watched consistently the empowerment of the police, the equipment of the police, the training of the police… And today I can say with pride that newly recruited police are all-rounders… I can feel that people have confidence in the police now and therefore feel more secure,” he remarked.
IGP
In his welcome address, the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, indicated that the service was grateful for the support the government continues to extend to them.
He, therefore, assured that the police will continue to maintain the peace and ensure the security of its citizens for Ghana to continue to be the trailblazer when it comes to peace and security in the sub-region in turmoil, adding that the logistics presented will go a long way to help them.
