Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has underscored the need for all Ghanaians to support the Police to maintain law and order before, during and after the Elections 2024.
“It is the duty of all of us to ensure that we have a credible, peaceful, free and fair elections come December 7, 2024,” Dr Bawumia stated.
The Vice President, therefore called on all Ghanaians, including political actors to support the Police and the Election Security Taskforce to discharge their duties effectively.
Vice President Bawumia made the remarks during the graduation ceremony of 430 Cadet Officers of the 53rd Cadet Course of the Police Training Academy in Tesano, Accra on Wednesday.
Dr Bawumia, who was the Reviewing Officer of the parade, commissioned the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASPs) Officers into the Senior Police Corps.
The Vice President was confident that the Police would continue to remain professional in the discharge of their duties during the polls.
“The Police is always at the centre of election security in Ghana, and it is important that officers act responsibly. The neutral, fair and firm election policing that we have witnessed before should be the reasons for optimism,” the Vice President stated.
The Vice President announced that the good conduct of police officers during the recent voter registration and exhibition exercises also provided a great blueprint and confidence for the main elections.
“Ghana Police Service, you have done it before, and we are counting on you to do it again. By maintaining high professional standards in the discharge of your duties, you are setting the perfect tone for the nation to follow in delivering a peaceful and incident free general elections,” Dr Bawumia added.
The Vice President stated that the discipline, commitment and enthusiasm he witnessed during the parade inspired optimism in them to maintain law and order across the country.
“Let me congratulate the officers on parade for such an impressive display of drill-craft. This certainly demonstrates the hard work, discipline and determination put in by both the officers and their trainers over the past six months in training.
“The displays show the readiness of the officers to serve the good people of Ghana in their new capacities. I highly commend the Police Management Board (POMAB), the Commandant and Staff of the Police Academy as well as allied trainers for doing a great job,” Dr Bawumia stated.
Dr Bawumia observed that the systemic re-orientation and reform of the Ghana Police Service since the assumption of office by the Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, had brought tangible results, which he prided himself with as Chairman of the Police Council.
“I am proud to stand side by side with such a visionary leader who, together with his team, continues to set the pace and is on course to make the Ghana Police Service the reference point for excellence in Africa and beyond.
“Ayekooo to you and your team,” Dr Bawumia stated.
“With Government and my own personal support, the Police Administration embarked on an ambitious infrastructural development of the Training School that has transformed the look and feel of this place. This is so beautiful”.
He added that beyond the physical development, the expansion of the Class-size of the Course Intake had also brought great opportunity to all service personnel.
“The current class of 430 officers is the largest in the history of the Ghana Police Service. Amazing,” he said.
Dr Bawumia noted that the increase in the churning of officers was helping to bridge the Officer-Men ratio as well as bringing Policing closer to the community.
He congratulated all the newly appointed Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) for their patriotism, dedication to duty and hard work, and urged them to aspire higher in their profession.
The Vice President also congratulated ASP Mr Achiburi Issah for emerging as the Best all-round Cadet Officer of the Course.
“Let this achievement be the beginning of bigger things to come in your service to your country. Remember that a lot will be expected of you,” Dr Bawumia added.
He urged the Officers on parade to serve with integrity and exhibit the highest level of professionalism.
GNA