Mahama inaugurates Police Council – Ghana Business News
President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday inaugurated a 10-Member Police Council under the chairpersonship of Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, urging them to serve with distinction.
The Police Council, established by the 1992 Constitution, advises the President on internal security, including services role, budgeting, finance, administration, and promotions of police officers above the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ASP).
It also has the power to make regulations with the President’s prior approval, for the effective administration of the Police Service.
President Mahama reminded members of the Council that they were called to serve at a critical time when public confidence in the nation’s institutions was being tested.
He said the Ghana Police Service must reposition itself.to meet the growing expectations of the Ghanaian people.
“You’re now custodians of one of the most essential mandates in our Republic, to guide the conduct, welfare, and effectiveness of our National Police Service.
This is not a task to be taken lightly.”
He said it was a sacred trust, a moral and legal responsibility to uphold the dignity of the uniform, the sanctity of justice, and the security of every Ghanaian life, adding that the Ghana Police Service must be a beacon of integrity.
“For too long, issues of politicization, arbitrary promotions, disregard for seniority, unfair postings, and breaches of professional conduct have cast shadows over the Service’s credibility,” he said.
The President noted that he was fully aware of the frustrations among the ranks of the Police Service and the public.
President Mahama said many police officers were feeling sidelined and demoralized while the citizens felt unheard and unprotected.
“Today, I charge this Council that we have just sworn in to be bold and impartial, address these grievances swiftly and justly, re-establish the trust within the Service and between the Service and the citizens,” the President said.
“Do not allow power to overshadow fairness. Let professionalism, not political pressure, guide your decisions.
“We must restore the Police Service to its noble place as a force for good, governed not by fear but by respect of an appreciative public, not by intimidation but by exercising lawful authority.”
He said security was not simply the presence of armed personnel on the nation’s streets but proper when citizens felt safe in their homes, on the streets, and in the hands of the institutions established to protect them.
The President emphasized a people-centered vision of policing, which is built on community partnerships, dialogue, accessibility, and empathy.
He said the nation’s police must not only be enforcers of the law, but must be collaborators with the society, working with their communities to prevent crime, to resolve disputes, and to protect vulnerable populations.
He charged the council to support reforms that promoted community policing, enhanced accountability mechanisms, and provide officers with the resources, training, and psychological support they needed to serve honourably and humanely.
“The world around us is evolving. Crime is becoming more sophisticated, ranging from cybercrime to human trafficking to terrorism and organized networks that transcend borders. And Ghana must not be left behind in this evolution,” the President said.
He urged the Council to work with the police administration to strengthen intelligence-gathering capabilities, modernize operations through technology, and ensure the recruitment and retention of well-trained ethical officers.
“We must also align the service with the government’s Reset Agenda, prioritizing professionalism, digital transformation, and institutional renewal across all sectors, including security. Let our police service become a 21st century institution that is agile, accountable, and forward-looking,” he said.
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, on behalf of Members of the Police Council, expressed gratitude to the President for the confidence reposed in them.
She pledged to lead the Council with transparency, inclusivity, and a deep respect for the rule of law.
Source: GNA
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