Increase Visibility At Night - Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has asked the police to increase their visibility at night to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the power crisis to terrorise the public.
"For some social miscreants, it is during these times at night that they will be working to deprive people of their valuables. You, the police, are the ones we need in these times," President Mahama stressed.

Speaking at the graduation of officers of the 46th cadet course at the Police Academy in Accra yesterday, the President asked the police to liaise with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to know areas that would be experiencing power cuts so that they would increase their presence there.

The cadet officers were commissioned as Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) after six months of training.

Forty-six-year-old Janet Akrofi Ansah was adjudged the overall best cadet officer and presented with the sword of honour by President Mahama.

Assuring the nation of his commitment to addressing the power crisis, the President said he shared the pain of the public and businesses but that there was hope at the end of the tunnel.

"We have, while working to bring new plants on stream and get the ones under maintenance to start working, also ordered some emergency plants that will be supplying some 750 plus megawatts of power to help in ameliorating the situation. The good news, however, is that both the Asogli and CENIT plants should be coming back on stream soon, and while it would not resolve the problem, it will reduce the supply gap; reduce the volume of megawatts that has to be shed at various times and the intensity of the effects it is having on us at home, in our offices and for business owners, " the President said.

Policing 

President Mahama said policing today was a departure from the past where autocratic bosses would tell their subordinates to “do as I say, obey before complain, and suffer in silence."

"The best organisations of our time tend to utilise team spirit, motivation and delegation, which are the essential credentials of a modern leader," he said.

It was in that context that he told the new officers that the public expected them to be proactive and accountable to the people and the law. 

President Mahama said in addition to their traditional duties, police officers were also expected to be "more service and assistance-oriented" to the people and the communities.

Police Academy

President Mahama acknowledged the laudable role the Police Academy had played in national and international security since its establishment in 1959.

He also said the academy had produced many servicemen and women who had contributed tremendously to both national and international security.

"These they have done through their invaluable contributions to our national security and safety and many peace support operations in our seemingly fragile world of today," he added.

Through such efforts, President Mahama said, Ghana had improved its record in human rights, safety and security and also contributed to raising the democratic credentials of this country far ahead of its contemporaries in Africa.

He touched on the fact that the current global developments of sovereign nations were subjected to the dictates of international law.

He, therefore, said it was important for the police to "appreciate the resounding effects that both international law and the international community have on our practices especially in the area of human rights and democratic policing as well as the rule of law".

Govt’s commitment

President Mahama said the government was not oblivious of the need for it to continuously commit resources to the police to enable them to render the requisite services.

"Government is determined, as part of our work towards advancing the Better Ghana Agenda, to consciously enhance the working conditions of our men and women in uniform in the areas of manpower needs, remuneration, accommodation, training and logistical support," he said.

Even in the face of budgetary constraints, the President said the government had made the needed interventions, which were yielding positive results.

Present was the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, and other service commanders.

In all 130 cadet officers including 10 medical doctors passed out from the academy.