The Police Administration is organising capacity-building programmes to get police personnel prepared and ready for the November 7, 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.
This was made known at a ceremony for the graduation of 49 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) who had undergone a five-week intensive training at the Police Staff and Command College in Winneba to upgrade their skills and capabilities in handling policing duties.
The participants, who will be promoted to the next rank of superintendent, were taken through election security management. They also learnt issues relating to elections and policing.
Hitch-free elections
In a keynote address read on his behalf, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr John Kudalor, said the training was to sharpen the professional expertise of the participants, who would provide security during the various political rallies in the run-up to the polls.
He said the focus was to deliver hitch-free presidential and parliamentary elections in November 2016.
“I am confident that with the operational capacity we have, we can deliver to ensure the success of the exercise, notwithstanding the possible challenges that we may be confronted with,” he said.
Mr Kudalor said although the unique intelligence assets of the service would be deployed to proactively support the operational plans of the Police Administration, “there shall also be a massive deployment of men and materials to all regions, divisions, districts and stations in order to reassure law-abiding citizens of our readiness to prevent social disorder.
The move, he said, was also to create a secure environment for the electorate to exercise their franchise”.
He said the Police Administration was ready to discover, embrace and employ new and current law enforcement strategies that would put it ahead of any situation that policemen might confront in the performance of their duties.
Police Staff and Command College
The Commandant of the college, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mrs Maame Yaa Tiwa Addo-Danquah, said the college had been building the capacity of police officers to make them effective and efficient middle-level managers since its establishment three years ago.
So far, she said, 374 senior police officers had been trained to meet the challenges of modern policing.
The curriculum of the course, she said, was geared towards inculcating in the officers a high level of integrity, discipline, dedication and devotion to duty.
She urged the beneficiaries of the course to believe in themselves, be mindful of their integrity and not wait to be told before they took actions in any situation.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Course Prefect, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ms Elizabeth Viney, said the course had broadened their horizon and improved their professional competencies in leadership and management skills.
Treat all equally
In a goodwill message, a retired Commissioner of Police (COP), Mrs Jane Christine Donkor, urged the police to treat all politicians equally, irrespective of their political party affiliations.
“Your vote is your secret. You have to be neutral during the elections, although you have a political party of your choice,” she said.
She advised the police to be disciplined, develop good relationships with their subordinates and also prepare towards their retirement while they were in active service.
All the participants were presented with certificates, while those who excelled were presented with special awards.
<<Print>>