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The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, has rejected claims that the Ghana Police Service at every point literally works in the larger interest of the incumbent government.

According to the IGP, one of the greatest challenges confronting the service is the wrong perception that it is solely controlled by the government of the day. Mr. Kudalor insists that the Police Service is a state institution with a defined mandate of enforcing law and order fairly to protect all citizens.

The IGP was speaking at a ceremony to announce a 4-million pound UK initiative to support Ghana’s elections to help deepen the country’s democratic activities. “Our main problem as a Police service is about the impression that if you are a Police force you belong to the government of the day.

I want to use this opportunity to tell the Ghanaian public that we as an institution is a state institution and we are there to provide security for everybody and not at any price.” Equipping personnel ahead of November polls On how prepared the Police are towards the upcoming general elections, the IGP said he is currently touring the various Police commands nationwide to inspect the facilities and personnel available, to agree on what needs to be done to further equip them. “I have already started touring the various regions to ensure that our men are ready for the election because policing election is quite unique.” Mr. Kudalor said his aim for touring the Police commands is to “see their weaknesses, to ensure that they have the right equipment for crowd control, and also ensuring that they have the necessary vehicles for the election since elections demand a lot of personnel on the ground so that everybody would have the chance to exercise their franchise.”

The Deepening Democratic Governance programme is a 4 million pound UK funded programme which will provide support to Ghana’s state institutions such as the Electoral Commission, the Police Service, the Judiciary and Civil Society groups led by STAR Ghana.