Govt would not change course - President Kufuor

Accra, May 6, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday said the Government would not change course in bringing sanity and improved sanitation to cities and towns in the country.

He, therefore, called on the citizenry to support the Government in its efforts.

President Kufuor said this when he addressed the passing out parade of the 38th Cadet Officers Course at the Ghana Police College in Accra. Eighty-five Police Officers made up of 74 men and 11 women passed out. He said during the past four years, the Government did not shy away from tough but unavoidable measures even at the risk of its own popularity to preserve law and order.

Other measures, President Kufuor said, were to stabilise the national economy and promote investments with the ultimate aim of creating wealth, reducing poverty and improving the general welfare of the people.

"Already, the effects of these policies are showing in the steadily improving economy as well as social infrastructure and services", he said.

President Kufuor said it was unfortunate that while the Government tried to contain the harsh effects of the increases in the prices of petroleum products and the deregulation of the sector on the nation's economy, some people within the society had set themselves up with doubtful motives to try and cause general disaffection in the country.

He said another group that had engaged national attention was the street hawkers, some of whom had decided to take the law into their own hands to return to the streets despite the Government's efforts to resettle them.

President Kufuor said these hawkers were being mischievous and provocative because they could not claim to have misunderstood the Government in its appeal to the Assemblies to undertake legitimate and long over-due de-congestion exercise with a human face.

He pledged the Government's continued commitment to sustain its policy of enhancing operational efficiency of the Ghana Police Service through recruitment and training of more personnel.

President Kufuor said the Government would continue with its steady increase in logistical support, various re-training programmes for serving Police personnel and improvement in their general welfare and called on Ghanaians to co-operate with the Police and support them in their work.

He said it was gratifying that the heavy investment the Government had made in the Police Service was yielding expected results, they had not only succeeded in generally keeping law and order, they had also won the confidence of many communities in the country.

"With their help and support, the Police are making spectacular inroads into the dens of hardened criminals and the nation is grateful for this," he said.

To the graduating officers, President Kufuor said they were joining the Service at a particularly auspicious moment when resources for work and opportunities for training and advancement had never been better. He said; "the problem of both office and residential accommodation, which has beset the Service for decades is being addressed systematically in the districts and regions.

"The current political dispensation assures you of a fairer work environment where career progression is based on merit. Any focused and disciplined Cadet can, therefore, work hard to realise his or her full potential to rise to the highest levels within the Ghana Police Service", he said.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paul Kwame Mensah Bampo was adjudged the best Officer Cadet and presented with the Sword of Honour. He also won the best drill award.

ASP Agyemang Boansi received awards for the best in Law subjects and Humanities; ASP Peter Lennox Aidoo had an award for being the best in Professional Police Subjects and ASP Nella A. Amaglo received the Commandant's Award.