Adopt robust and pragmatic approaches in combating crime - IGP

Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has asked security personnel to adopt robust and pragmatic approaches in the fight against crime.

He said this has become necessary at a time when the world was grappling with rapid effects of information and communication technology, globalisation, trans-national organised crime, expansion and competition in economic activities, fast flow of information, speedy demography changes, migration issues, healthcare concerns, increase in free trade, civil disturbances, political upheavals, human rights, threats to human rights among others trending.

In a speech read on his behalf of the IGP at the closing session of an eight-week training course organized for 90 security officers from the Police, Military Police, personnel from Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Prisons Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authourity, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Narcotics Control Board and Ghana Immigration Service.

The programme was organized by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and sponsored by the National Crime Agency of the British High Commission.

They participants were taken through topics in human rights, criminal investigations, law of evidence, intelligence gathering, cybercrime, crime scene management, case tracking tools and docket building.

The Police Chief said the evolution of transnational organised crimes relating to cyber security threats, narcotics drug trading, human trafficking, terrorism, money laundering, abduction and others enjoins the police and other law enforcement agencies to reinvent the wheel and adopt concrete and sustainable strategies to counter them.

“Additionally, the ever-changing legal and administrative systems calls for continuous and standardised training of investigators to acquire the requisite knowledge and skill to keep pace with all issues emerging within our legal jurisprudence,” he said.

Mr Oppong-Boanuh said the programme would foster synergy among the security agencies to effectively fight, especially organised crimes in order to maintain law and order.

He commended the Commissioner of Police (COP) Mrs Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, for consistently organising such programmes to equip investigators at this era, saying police administration would continue to support such endeavours.

The IGP urged the participants to be professional, respect diversity/civil liberties and human rights of people as well as allow integrity to take the centre stage of their work.

He said criminal investigations required patience, sound judgement and emotional intelligence, thus, they should avoid prejudice and follow through every lead to achieve desired results, adding that, they would be effective if they collaborated with the public.

Mrs Addo-Danquah who is also the Director-General of the CID said the course would be extended from eight weeks to three months under the supervision of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

She said a Memorandum of Understanding between the University and Ministry of the Interior would be signed to that effect.

Mrs Addo-Danquah said the course content, assessment, issuing of certificate among other things would be supervised by UCC.

She was reacting to a valedictory message given by Mr Jerry Foster Segbefia, Course representative that the course duration was short to tackle the various subjects.

Superintendent Ms Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Commandant of the Detective Training Academy (DTA) urged the trainees to make a difference with the new skills as they would be held accountable by the citizenry.

Madam Henrietta Wheal of the British High Commission said the British government was committed to strengthen the ties between the two countries by helping to maintain peace in Ghana.

Corporal Paulina Azaka was adjudged the overall best graduand.

Certificates were issued to the participants and special awards to some who distinguished themselves.

The participants later donated 1,500 pieces of blocks to the DTA for the construction of a new classroom block.