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Mrs. Joana Osei-Poku, Commissioner of Police and President of the Police Ladies Association (POLAS), has called on women to be assertive and courageous to keep crimes at bay in their homes. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Greater Accra branch of POLAS on Saturday, she said: "Women have been uniquely endowed with innate capabilities of bringing relief to the anguished, joy to those in pain and hope to the hopeless thereby making life worth living." Mrs Osei-Poku therefore charged: "Women in general and policewomen in particular to break the shell of lack of assertiveness and move the corridors of boldness." The association was formed to promote unity and discipline among police women and foster awareness in nation building. Mrs. Osei-Poku defined boldness as the ability to "express ones thought, feelings and beliefs in a direct, honest and appropriate manner, without losing respect for oneself and the other person". She said the first 12 women recruited in September 1952 were charged with the responsibility of handling problems and issues affecting women, children and juveniles bringing to the fore, the valuable contribution of women. She lauded Angela Merkel and Ellen Johnson - Sirleaf, who in the face of fierce political contest with male counterparts made history by emerging the first female Chancellor of Germany and President of Liberia respectively. "We acknowledge the achievement of the Current Speaker of Parliament Mrs. Joyce Bamford-Addo and the current Chief Justice. Mrs. Georgina Wood," she said, adding that their achievements should spur young ladies to greater heights. Twenty years ago she said female police were very rare at the higher echelons of the police service, explaining that the highest rank a female police could attain was Assistant Commissioner of Police. "Today there is increasing number of appointments to command positions both locally and on international peacekeeping missions," she said and noted that prior to her appointment, Mrs. Elizabeth Mills-Robertson Ghana's High Commissioner to Sierra Leone held the highest position of acting Inspector General Police. Female police she said had served in Rwanda, East Timor, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Sierra Leone, Sudan and many other missions and performed equal tasks as their male counterparts. Mrs. Osei however said one problem that threatened the progress of women was indiscipline among police personnel ranging from gross insubordination and disrespect towards the public. She observed that policewomen have been among the culprits with disheartening reports of immorality. She called on the guilty ones, to desist from such acts since the service would not compromise on standards. Mrs. Mills-Robertson, who chaired the ceremony called on POLAS to shape the character and minds of members positively for the good of the country.