Ninety police recruits pass out

Kumasi, Nov. 4, GNA - Mrs. Gifty Anim-Botwe, Commissioner of Police in-charge of Welfare, has reminded young police officers that their passing-out did not, in anyway put an end to their training. "You have just finished with the basic training and are now embarking on a real journey of a life time in policing." She said as they go out to their respective postings, they would have to imbibe new skills, tactics, techniques and ideas that must conform to the laws and regulations in the country, procedurally correct and above all, do not infringe on the fundamental rights and freedoms of the populace.

Mrs. Anim-Botwe reminded them that in this age of globalisation and international policy standardization, there was the need for them to learn modern trends in crime combat as well as the fight against organized crimes such as Internet fraud, drug trafficking and other cross border crimes that have no boundaries.

She was addressing a passing-out parade of 90 general police recruits who underwent a six-month basic training at the Police Training School and Depot in Kumasi on Friday.

Mrs Anim-Botwe reiterated that the police would continue to wage a relentless war on crime in the society to reduce it to the barest minimum.

She said, however, that the police can succeed in the fight against criminals only with the support and co-operation of the public as partners and therefore stressed the need for the public to feel free to give any valuable information about criminals and crime to the police.

The Commissio ner of Police also asked the public to expose police officers who indulge in unprofessional and corrupt activities including those who disclose the identity of reliable informants to the police administration.

To those who enlist in the Police Service with the aim of amassing wealth, Mrs Anim-Botwe asked them to make a decision now as the Police Service has no room for such people.

"There is a turnaround, a paradigm shift, a new police officer who commands respect and is liked by all respectable stakeholders". She recalled that in the last few months a number of fatal motor accidents have occurred claiming some important lives and that traffic accidents had assumed alarming proportions due to human error. Mrs. Anim-Botwe said it was therefore their duty wherever they were posted to educate drivers on the need to exercise utmost care on the roads and also enforce the road traffic regulations and laws on public safety in order that they can contribute to the collective policing responsibility of the protection of life and property. She congratulated the officer commanding, the staff and all who helped in the training of the recruits and also commended the award winners.

Gerald W. Dauda was adjudged the overall best recruit and best in academic work, while the best recruit in conduct went to Hope Adokpah with Joseph Ekow Gaisie taking the best recruit in drill. Recruit Charles Asare emerged the best recruit in marksmanship and Daniel Lartey was adjudged the best recruit in physical training. Mr. Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, was among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony.