Police officers in the Greater Accra Region have pledged their commitment to fight corruption in the Ghana Police Service.
They promised their readiness to uphold professionalism in the discharge of their duties of maintaining law and order.
The police officers made the affirmation during the regional launch of the ‘Public Reaffirmation Campaign’ as part of a national initiative to salvage the public image of the police.
National initiative
Since the national campaign was launched in Accra on March 18, 2014, there have been launches in Kumasi, Tamale and Tema.
At the Accra programme, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, interacted with senior police officers under the Accra Regional Police Command.
The event was also used to sensitise the police to the need to shun corrupt practices such as demanding or accepting bribe, among other negative practices.
Later, armbands in blue and yellow and with the inscriptions “I do not accept bribes” and “Do not bribe the police” were distributed to the police officers to wear.
It is a process
In an interview with journalists after the launch, Mr Alhassan said the police had also commenced activities to educate the public on the duties of the police.
“This is a process and not an event. We are moving to the various regions and I am happy with the response so far. We hope to turn around the public image of the police,” he said.
He said it took time and effort to change the practices, “but we have an action plan in place to instill discipline in our officers”.
He mentioned plans to establish a specialised police training school in Pwalugu to build the capacity of police officers.
Miscreants in service
The Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Christian Tetteh Yohonu, said the disciplinary procedures of the police had also been enhanced to ensure speedy dismissal of rogue police officers.
“The few bad lots in the service who engage in crime are not being spared at all. The fact that you are in a police uniform does not mean the Police Administration will protect you when you engage in crime,” he said.
In line with the regional launch, Mr Yohonu said the regional command intended to undertake more sensitisation programmes at the divisional and district levels to ensure that the police upheld the highest professional standards in the performance of their duties.
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.