A total of 2,012 newly recruited officers comprising 1,323 males and 689 females successfully passed out and were posted to various stations, according to Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta.
He said the Ghana Police Service deepened intelligence-led policing through the gathering of critical intelligence for effective and efficient combat of criminals in a proactive manner by preventing many potential crimes.
Presenting the 2022 budget statement in Parliament, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta said the Ghana Police Service (GPS), in conjunction with other security agencies, launched “Operation Peace Trail” to secure the Eastern and Western Borders.
He said the GPS Marine Unit, in collaboration with the Navy and other security agencies, is currently deployed on our territorial waters. Beach motorbike patrol teams have also been deployed. In addition, the Counter-Terrorism Unit of the Service has been deployed in: Bunkprugu, Chereponi, Gambaga and Yendi in the Northern Region; Kulungugu, Paga, Pusiga, and Zebilla in the Upper East Region; and Gwollu, Hamile, Lawra, Nadowli, Tumu and Wechiau-Dorimon in the Upper West Region.
The Minister said in 2022, the Service will computerize and network all Police stations and offices to facilitate the implementation of the statistics tracking system and create specialized courts for expeditious disposal of cyber-crimes in the country. It will also create more Neighbourhood Watch Committees across the country to enhance partnership and collaboration with the communities to fight crime.
Also, the Service will extend the establishment of the Formed Police Units (FPU) in phases to all the 18 Police Regions in the country to ensure effective and efficient public order and crowd control system. The Police Service will increase its patrol duties in the communities and highways to curb the rising spate of armed robbery and other crimes in the country.
The Police Service, in its quest to reduce carnage on our roads, will retrain and retool the MTTD on road traffic enforcement strategies and the use of modern scientific road traffic equipment.
The Ghana Police Service will adopt a scientific intelligence-led strategy in the prevention, detection, and investigation of criminal cases. Specialized Criminal Investigation Units such as Forensic, Homicide, Cyber-crime, Fingerprints, and the Police Intelligence Directorate will be equipped with modern scientific equipment in line with international best practices.
In addition, the Ghana Prisons Service trained 70 juveniles and 1,250 adults in vocational skills at NVTI, prepared 584 inmates for BECE and 250 for WASSCE, and enrolled 81 inmates for tertiary programs. In addition, the Service established a Canine Unit at Nsawam to train security dogs to enhance its operations.
The Church of Pentecost completed and handed over the Ejura Prison Camp in May 2021. In addition, the Damongo, Nsawam, and Pomposo Prison Camps are at various stages of completion and will be handed over by the Church to the Service upon completion. This support will reduce overcrowding in prisons and improve the health of inmates.
In 2021, the Service completed one 8-unit one-bedroom staff accommodation at the Roman Ridge Barracks, and one 8-unit two-bedroom flats at Ankaful is ongoing. In 2022, the Service, will continue the construction of the Nsawam 800 Capacity Remand Project and resume work on Phase II of the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison. The Service will also continue to provide healthcare for inmates and staff and intensify inmates’ skills development programs.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.con/Kofi Atakora
