1,032 Police recruits pass out in two regions

A total of 1,032 police recruits have passed out at two police training institutions in the Eastern and the Upper East regions.

While 597 passed out at the Police Public Safety Training School at Pwalugu in the Talensi District in the Upper East Region, 435 passed out at the Koforidua Police Training School in the New Juaben municipality in the Eastern Region.

The Director-General of Police in charge of Operations, Commissioner of Police (COP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare, and COP Ms Rose Bio Atinga were the reviewing officers at the passing out parades in Koforidua and Pwalugu, respectively.

The recruits underwent six months of training in criminal law, criminal procedure, law of evidence, criminal investigations, professional ethics and community policing.

Other areas covered during the training were weapon handling, practical police duties, physical training and environmental cleanliness.

Koforidua

Addressing the graduands in Koforidua, COP Dr Dampare urged them to work hard and be professional in the discharge of their duties.

That, he said, would help disabuse the minds of the public of the negative perceptions it had of the Police Service.

“You must not do anything that will tarnish the image of the Police Service. As you all know, it takes a lot of sacrifice and continuous learning for a person to become better in whatever he or she does.  Therefore, you must sacrifice your time and effort to help lift the image of the service high,” he advised.

The Police Administration, he said, had put in place measures to ensure that the Police Service became one of the top 10 police services in the world.

Transformation

At Pwalugu, COP Ms Atinga reminded the new recruits about the challenges they would face when they started work, which meant they would be required to apply their knowledge and skills, including using their discretion, in the discharge of their duties.

"Let me again remind you that over 80 percent of police professional activities are based on the use of discretion, and any improper usage of discretion brings one into direct conflict with the law and disciplinary enquiry," she said.

She said the Police Service was carrying out a transformation agenda with the vision to becoming a world-class police service, capable of delivering to international standards.

Caution

She said in line with that, the administration was implementing various policies and interventions in the areas of reform and restructuring, with the view to improving the skills, competencies and professionalism of personnel.

Ms Atinga, therefore, cautioned policemen against "laziness, drunkenness, extortion and untoward behaviour towards members of the public”.

“I wish to reiterate that any act of commission or ommission tends to soil the image of the Police Service and that will not be tolerated,” she warned.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Rockson Bukari, urged the recruits to help the country resolve challenges such as fertiliser smuggling, armed robbery, mob action, indiscipline on the roads, chieftaincy and land conflicts.

"These rising crime and lawlessness can lead to deaths, while they make governance difficult due to their negative impact on the economy, public safety and security," he added.