Gov't will not spare corrupt police officers - Minister

Alhaji Malik Al-hassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior on Monday warned the police that the government would not spare officers found to be corrupt in the performance of their duties. Speaking at the opening of a course for crime officers in Accra, he said: " I do hope that after this course officers will be more alert, thorough and honest in the performance of your duties, since your integrity will be put to the test against the government's policy of zero tolerance for corruption".

Fifty crime officers selected nation-wide are attending the two- week course designed to upgrade their skills in the handling of specific crimes and new trends in criminology.

Alhaji Yakubu urged the officers to work to erase the negative perception of the police by the public as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country.

"You should generally improve upon your ethical standards to paint a picture of a disciplined and effective police force".

The government, he said, is exploring opportunities for training and procurement of equipment from Britain and Canada for the service from which crime officers would also benefit.

The Minister commended the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for assisting the country to gather enough scientific evidence on the serial killings. Peter Acheampong, Director of the Police Criminal Investigations Department said the course would help address complaints often received from the Attorney General's office and the courts over cases brought before them.