Gov't to review remuneration of the Police

Accra, Aug. 27, GNA - A committee to review the remuneration and conditions of service of the Ghana Police Service would soon be set up, President John Agyekum Kufuor announced on Friday. He, therefore, called Police personnel to be credible, impartial and dedicated to their mission.

"You must always approach your duties with professionalism. This will surely win the Service the respect of the society and help it to play its role effectively as a crucial institution of governance", he said.

President Kufuor was addressing the passing out parade for 77 Police Cadet Officers at the Ghana Police College in Accra. They were made up of 66 men and 10 women with Cadet Officer Firmin A. Azitariga being adjudged the overall best Cadet and presented with the Sword of Honour by President Kufuor.

President Kufuor said the Government since 2001 had supplied the Service with about 500 vehicles of all types and this year, a package valued at over 21 million dollars had been approved for the Service. This is to help improve the mobility, equipment and training needs as well as the well-being of personnel.

President Kufuor announced that for the first time in the annals of the country, the Service would be provided with a fixed wing aircraft as well as helicopters to improve upon its crime management activities.

The package, he said would also provide for various vehicles including armoured vehicles, as well as arms, ammunition and uniforms.

"Indeed under other packages, which the Government is putting together for the security agencies, the vehicle situation of the Service should improve considerably before the end of this year", he said.

President Kufuor said arrangements were almost finalised for the development of a digital nationwide communication system for the Service.

The Project, scheduled to begin before the end of the year, would enable Police personnel to communicate with each other in all parts of the country through their own satellite systems.

He announced that the Government had decided to establish a first class gymnasium to improve upon the fitness of Police personnel, "this should not only bring the era of the flabby Police personnel to an end but also provide an added avenue for team-building to enhance 'esprit de corps' of the Service".

On accommodation, President Kufuor said with the assistance from the Chinese Government, the Government had put up 48 self-contained accommodation units at the National Police Training School known as "the Chinese Project".

He said the Government had given approval for work to resume on some Police offices and residential accommodation projects that had been abandoned since 1978.

Work will commence on some of the projects at Sunyani, Cape Coast, Sekondi and Accra.

President Kufuor said in the meantime, the Government had paid deposits to the State Housing Corporation (SHC) to provide the Service with some housing units at Koforidua, Ho, Kumasi and Tamale.

"The Government is determined to work systematically to solve the office and residential accommodation problems of the Service", he said. President Kufuor said the Government's commitment to ensure a peaceful, free and fair elections in December, would depend on how the Service discharged its duties impartially and without fear or favour. He advised the new officers to take good care of all the logistics and materials that would be placed at their disposal and to ensure that personnel under their command did likewise.

"It is through careful and prudent utilisation of resources that we can hope to provide efficient and effective services to our communities and our nation".