Vice President Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia has admonished personnel in the Ghana Police Service to seek redress of work-related matters at the right quarters and avoid running to the public centres to discuss them.
He did not understand why the peace officers would discuss work-related grievances in a “chop bar” or at a friend’s party, when the door to his office, as the chairman of the Police Council was always open.
The Vice President was delivering a speech at the 52nd Cadet Officers’ graduation parade at the Police National Training School in Accra, on Wednesday, this week.
The review officer of the parade saw the passing out of 364 Cadet Officers – 260 males and 44 females to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
According to him, instead of the officers running to the public with their grievances, they should rather learn to respect their own rules and regulations, particularly by staying within the command structure in handling their grievances.
“To all other Officers on parade, let us be proud of the uniform, serve with integrity and exhibit the highest level of professionalism as we ensure safety and security across the country,” he stressed.
He reminded the personnel that the Ghana Police Service operates with a well-organised structure and effective communication channels, supported by a robust command and control system.
With that, he said “As the Chairman of the Police Council, I am committed to fulfilling my constitutional role alongside the Council team to ensure that the administrative and operational aspects of the Service benefit both officers and citizens.
“In law enforcement, leadership marked by discipline, professionalism and integrity is crucial for success and credibility.”
He continued that fostering a culture based on these principles is not just a preference for the Ghana Police, but a necessity to uphold public trust and respect.
Dr Bawumia added that the police administration was undergoing progressive paradigm shift in the training regime of Cadet Officers and this comes in a combination of theory and practice.
The new outlook of the police is also tailored to meet emerging dynamics of democratic policing, underscored by integrated working with stakeholders and strengthened by a more confident and practically oriented law enforcement leadership at the District and Unit levels across the country.
He also added that the parade is a very significant milestone in the professional journey of officers and their impressive drill display, which symbolises their readiness to serve the country in their new capacity.
The police administration was assured of the government’s commitment to resource the Service to enable it continue to play its constitutional role of maintaining law and order for all citizens to go about their businesses without let or hindrance.
“Certainly, the centrality of law enforcement as pivotal driver for politico-socio-economic development and progress in contemporary times cannot be over-emphasized.”
In the light of this commitment, he added that construction of additional infrastructure such as lecture rooms, ultra-modern auditorium and residential accommodation is nearing completion at the Academy. This is intended to improve teaching and learning and to adequately accommodate the increasing number of officers admitted to the Academy.
Also, the Government continues to support the decentralisation efforts of the Formed Police Unit across the country. So far, over 122 bases have been established across the country, in addition to provision of motorbikes and related equipment of law enforcement, more mobilisation of resources is on-going to ensure these FPU bases are self-sustaining.
The intervention is to capacitate the police to deliver the expected formed responses and address emerging violent crimes as may be required of them in the locations where they operate.
Similarly, the commitment is to enhance visibility, accessibility, operational cohesion, responsiveness and effectiveness of the Police in these deployed locations, to consolidate public trust and confidence in the law enforcement agency.
To reflect the government digitalisation agenda with how the police serve the public in the combat of crime, the Police Service in collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority, has developed and deployed digital solution tools christened, “TRAFFITECH-GH”, to streamline the enforcement of road traffic laws and regulations to improve road safety in Ghana.
“The government will support expedited roll-up of implementation across the country to help stem the tide of the increasing preventable crashes, with attendant damage to property, injuries to persons and the fatalities. I must say the country continues to record a steady decline in road crashes and associated deaths and injuries,” he assured
He also charged them not to only focus on crime, but maximize opportunities to expand and deepen decentralization of “your criminal record clearance services across the 25 Regional Police Commands this year within the overall framework of the Ghana Police Services Transformational Agenda, aimed to improve police service delivery to the populace.”
On election security, he told the Cadet that much was expected of them to support and maintain the long-standing professionalism in providing the needed security before, during and after the elections in the communities that they will be deployed.
He also advised the public to partner the police by volunteering information for the good of the nation, adding “as we urge the public to come on board, I wish to charge officers on parade in particular, and all other police officers to note that the expectation of the Ghanaian public is for you to be proactive and accountable to them.
“You should be first exemplary law-abiding citizens for others to emulate. As professionals, always remember to treat people the way you wish yourselves, spouse or children to be treated. Therefore, in enforcing the law, be fair, firm and fearless.”
