The Police must deal with crimes of vigilantism without fear or favour, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei Opare, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency has stated.
“I urge you to deal with such crimes swiftly without fear or favour, be professional, bold, fair and firm irrespective of ethnic, political or economic standing of personalities involved in such crimes,” she stressed.
The Chief of Staff was speaking at the 2018 West African Security Services Association (WASSA) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Accra last Friday held on the theme “Consolidating ideas against vigilantism for national safety”.
The programme was aimed at taking stock of their activities for the past year. It brought together dignitaries such as the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant General Obed Boama Akwa, traditional rulers sister security agencies, among others, who were thrilled with music from the Police Central band and artistes Bernice Ansah, Great Ampong, and
Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) President, Bice Osei Kufour popularly known as ‘Obour.’
Mrs Opare said it was heart-warming to note that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sent a bill on vigilantism to Parliament under a certificate of emergency last Thurday, adding that when passed into law, it would assist the police to work more diligently.
The Chief of Staff said the government was committed to empowering and retooling the Ghana Police by enhancing both human resource and logical capacity to enable them to perform efficiently.
She said a new modern National Detective Training Academy with facilities for detectives was being constructed at Kenyasi No 1, in the Bono Region.
Mrs Opare commended the personnel for their diligence at ensuring safety in the country, saying “Ghana is safe and secure largely because of the work you do, sometimes at the peril of your lives. You deserve to be recommended. ”
The Director-General of the CID, Commissioner of Police (COP) Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah in her remarks, said the CID would continue to put in place diverse crime prevention measures.
“This holistic approach to solving crime necessitated the setting up of new units and the strengthening of old ones to guarantee more successes in our investigations,” she added.
COP Addo-Danquah urged the personnel to work as a team towards a common goal in reducing crime rate in the society.
As part of the occasion, awards were presented to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Augustine Offei of the Anti Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters for outstanding performance in 2018 and DSP (rtd) Justice Oppong, overall best officer.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
