IGP Visits Marine Police

IGP Arriving at the Takoradi Port

IGP Arriving at the Takoradi Port



IGP Arriving at the Takoradi Port
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan has assured personnel of the Marine Unit of the Ghana Police Service that they would be equipped to effectively discharge their duties.

The Marine Police Unit, formerly called the Water Police, which was disbanded in 1942 under the Colonial administration, was re-launched about three years ago.

The Marine Police Unit began work in the second quarter of 2011 in line with the Security Master Plan for the Oil and Gas in Ghana.

The unit is mandated to perform the traditional role of enforcing law and order, as well as protecting the oil and gas industry inshore and offshore.

Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan disclosed this last Wednesday during a visit to the Marine and Railway Ports Police Unit at the Takoradi Port.

The visit was used to applaud personnel of the unit for their tenacity and hard work despite the logistical constraints.

The IGP said oil exploration had its associated security implications on the country, hence the re-activation of the Police Marine Unit to beef up maritime security.

He called on the Marine Police Unit to collaborate effectively with the Ghana Navy in their surveillance duties to protect Ghana’s waters.

‘We need to collaborate with the Ghana Navy and the Ministry of Fisheries so that we can pool our resources together and come out with holistic approach to combat maritime crime and protect the country’s oil and gas installations,’ he added.

Chief Supt. Samuel Owsusu Berko, Director of Marine Police Unit at the Takoradi Port, noted that the boats being used by his men were nine meters long and could only go 6.2 nautical miles.

‘So we are constrained when the crime committed goes beyond the 6.2 nautical miles,’ he added.

Accompanying the IGP were David Asante-Apeatu, Director-General of Research and Planning and ICT and Head of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Cephas Arthur.

Personnel of the unit recently arrested some fishermen, who allegedly bought fish from foreign vessels on the high seas with the view to selling them onshore.

According to personnel of the unit, the practice of buying fish on the high seas depletes the country’s fish stock and must not be allowed to flourish.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
 
 
 

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