Police personnel urged to respect the human rights

Kumasi, Nov 4, GNA - Mr. Francis Emile Short, Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), on Tuesday reminded police personnel of the need to respect the human rights of people who come into contact with them.
He said observance of human rights of suspects is not contrary to or inconsistent to the performance of their duties of ensuring peace and order as well as preventing crime in the society.
Mr Emile Short was speaking at the opening of a three-day workshop for some police station officers in the Ashanti Region. The workshop, which is being organised by CHRAJ, is aimed at creating awareness among the police personnel on the human rights provisions enshrined in the 1992 constitution and other international human rights conventions.
It is also designed to help the officers to perform their duties in accordance with existing human rights provisions in the country and prevent them from coming into conflict with the law.
Mr said it is an obligation for police officers to respect the rights of the people who came into contact with them.
"It should be possible for police personnel to fight crime and observe human rights. Observing human rights is not opposed to preventing crime.''
Mr Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, advised the station officers to develop a habit and attitude of taking bold decisions and making use of their discretionary powers judiciously and effectively.
He, however, reminded them to be mindful that the Police Administration would not hesitate to sanction any officer who misuses his discretionary powers.