We Won't Protect Criminal Personnel - K.K. Manfo

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police In-Charge of Operations, Dr Kofi Kesse Manfo has said the Police Administration would not protect any personnel, who engaged in acts of criminality that would cast a slur on the image of the Service.

Addressing the passing-out parade of 209 recruits at the Police National Training School in Accra, he said: "personnel, who extort monies from the members of the public and engage in any act that compromises the professional ethics of the Service will accordingly be sanctioned."

Dr Manfo noted that the Police Service was a noble profession whose norms and ethics must be upheld by all personnel.

The recruits comprised 135 females and 74 males, who had successfully undergone a six-month rigorous training in various policing techniques and strategies.

Dr Manfo said the frequent recruitments in recent times were in furtherance of the agenda of the Police Administration to increase the Service's manpower needs and make it more effective.

He reminded the new recruits of the need to work hard and to make sacrifices as they had embarked on an assignment of policing in a democratic society saying "your task is tough and delicate, especially at this crucial period of Ghana's democratic dispensation".

Dr Manfo urged the Police to exercise significant discretion when applying the law as the Police must be responsive to public demands for service and protection but should resist demands that violated the constitutional rights of the people.

"The Police must remain accountable to societal norms and democratically selected representatives. Such is the career you have chosen."

The Deputy Inspector-General told the personnel that the days where some Police officers felt powerful and above the law and could physically assault, insult or threaten members of the public for no just cause were over, saying the rights of all citizens had to be respected and protected.

He noted that effective policing was dependent on public cooperation, which was a function of trust, and the Police must employ tact to win the confidence of the public.

Dr Manfo said policemen and women must be guided by the rules of the use of guns saying when guns were used wrongly; the hard-won image of the Service was tarnished.

Francisca Kumadzro emerged the overall best recruit while Timothy Bless Asamoah was adjudged the best in academic work. Elorm Kukubor was the markswoman with Mavis Yeboah becoming the best in drill.

The award for conduct went to Sefakor Akoto while Terry Ebo Arko received special award for information technology.