Ho, May 3, GNA - The audience at this year's passing out parade at the Volta Region Police Training School, Ho, were given a treat to the Gold Coast Constabulary (Police) on parade in 1874.
The idea is to provide a diversion to the routine passing out programme with lots to laugh about and an assessment of the level of transformation the Ghana Police Service has gone through since independence in 1957.
Relatives, friends and admirers were all expectant as they trained their eyes on the smartly dressed newcomers into the Police Service who had formed up ready for the commencement of the passing out ceremonies.
Suddenly a group of men in khaki tops and khaki shorts, red head gears, red sashes wrapped around their mid -sections and red bandages for socks marched in a ragtag formation unto the parade ground led by a lanky stern looking officer shouting orders in pidgin English.
Many among the audience asked who these strangers were and whether they were part of a new unit of the Police Service, until the Master of Ceremonies explained that that was how the Gold Coast Constabulary established in 1874 looked like.
The stern looking drill officer with medals strewn on his breast shouted orders with gestures at his ragtag men whose comportment portrayed a group of crass illiterates who gained their places by virtue of their brawns rather than by brains.
The new General Constables on parade were by every measure a sharp contrast to the men of the Constabulary.
Today's General Constable must go through the rigours of academic discipline and be well baked in 17 Policing related disciplines including, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Service instructions, Criminal Investigation, Law of Evidence, Acts and Decrees, Professional Policing Ethics, English Language and Report Writing as well as musketry, physical training, foot drill and rifle drill.
'The future of the Ghana Police Service is bright. We are determined to sustain our modest achievements and forge ahead in our quest for excellence,' the Reviewing Officer, Ms Rose Bio Atinga, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) and Director General in charge of Administration said.
She said the Police Administration 'is feverishly implementing human resource improvement strategies that will go a long way to build the capacities of personnel at all levels.
'The only way we can measure up to our task and effectively deal with crime is to learn and be abreast of modern techniques of combating crime,' DCOP Atinga said.
She cautioned the new policemen to overcome any inclinations 'to get-rich-quick'.
DCOP Atinga told the fresh men that until after a successful probation period of 18 months they should not consider themselves as fully -fledged policemen.
General Recruit (GR) Lamptey Duke, the overall best recruit received a baton of honour.
GR Mike Wireko Fodjour was the best marksman, GR Attram Amanor Yusuf was the best in drill, GR Alhassan Issaka Afubil was the best in physical training, GR Osei Alex, best in conduct and GR Aheto Wisdom, Officer Commanding's special award.
GNA
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