Be mindful of your mandate – Woyongo tells Police

Source: Daily Graphic Ghana  -  The Minister of the Interior, Mr Mark Owen Woyongo, has urged the police to remain resolute in the discharge of their duties to ensure that they are not compromised...

“You must be mindful of your mandate which entails safety and security. In the execution of your mandate, you enable the country to experience economic growth and development in peace,” he said.

Though Mr Woyongo observed that the police as officers of the law would encounter varied challenges, he advised them to be determined, committed and dedicated “to ensure that your duties are not compromised”.

The minister gave the advice during the celebration of the Ghana Police Service 2014 West African Security Service Social Activities (WASSA) at the Police Headquarters in Accra last Friday.

He told the police to let their professional code of ethics guide their conduct, and asked them to make protection of life their highest priority, serve the public and be accountable to the people they served.

The police, he stated, should also conduct their activities with respect for human dignity and basic human rights of all persons and discharge their duties devoid of discrimination.

Mr Woyongo commended the police for the hard work and the enormous achievements in the year 2014.

Nonetheless, “I cannot say that all activities of the service were perfect. Several policemen and women painted black spots on the otherwise white sheet of excellent performance” he said.

He mentioned that miscreants in the services who engaged in robbery and extortion and brought the image of the service into disrepute suffered the consequences of conviction and imprisonment.

“Several other acts of indiscipline, misjudgement and genuine professional errors also accounted for some negative ratings.”

The social gathering, which was attended by officials from other security agencies, was marked with merrymaking with the police band, children from the school for the blind and popular musician, Okyeame Kwame providing music.

In a welcome address, the acting Director General of Finance and Welfare, Commissioner of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, stated that the occasion was also meant for the police to take stock of their activities and come up with strategies for the year ahead.

“An honest review of the 2014 performance of the Police Service reveals that a lot was achieved, while at the same time, a lot more could have been achieved if all of us worked a little harder and allowed the spirit of teamwork, discipline and commitment.”

Thirty four officers from the various police units were rewarded for their excellent performance. A journalist with TV3 Network, Mr Peter Adattor, was presented with a memento and a laptop for his dedication to work and coverage of police activities in 2014.