Police to operate improved communication system

Accra, May 24, GNA - Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of The Interior, on Tuesday announced Government's intention to initiate a nationwide digital communication system for the Ghana Police Service to enable it to perform effectively and efficiently.

The necessary technical assessments had been done and funds were being sought to start the project, he said, when the French Government handed over communication equipment to the Ghana Police Service. The communication equipment is part of a French Government Project to give technical support to the Police Service.

The one million-euro project is to support the Police to maintain law and order, support the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) with technical and scientific Police training and train personnel in French language and project management.

Papa Owusu Ankomah said timely and accurate information was crucial for the investigation of crimes and the communication equipment would link the national headquarters of the CID with a number of regional offices.

The Police Service was going through transformation and the Government was willing to provide the Service with substantial resources to promote efficiency, he said.

"It is necessary for Police personnel to start changing their attitude to work... personnel should remember that they can only receive assistance and cooperation from the public if they won the public's confidence and treated them as human beings who have rights which have to be respected," he said.

Papa Owusu Ankomah advised personnel, who had been trained under the project, to consider themselves as trainers of trainers and impart the knowledge they had acquired to their colleagues.

"I will expect all Police personnel to live up to the motto of the Service, that is, 'Service with Integrity'", he said, adding "any Police personnel whose action flouts this motto aught to be appropriately dealt with".

Mr Patrick Acheampong, Inspector General of Police, said as part of the Project, a two-week training programme would be organized in Kumasi for Police officers.

He commended the French Embassy for their commitment to help the Ghana Police Service.

Mr Pierre Jacquemot, the French Ambassador in Ghana, reiterated France's commitment to help the Ghana Police Service to set up an operational unit capable of maintaining law and order. He said the equipment would aid easy communication between personnel at different places in the country.

The equipment has already been installed at Accra and Kumasi and would be installed in Wa and Bolgatanga and Ho.