By Kizito CUDJOE
The Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has expressed confidence in security agencies’ preparedness as the country heads toward the 2024 general elections.
Speaking at the 53rd Police Cadet Officers’ Course graduation at the National Police Training School in Accra, Dr. Bawumia assured that the upcoming elections will continue Ghana’s tradition of peaceful and credible democratic exercises.
“As we gear-up for this year’s elections, it is important to take stock and know that we have been here and done it before,” Dr. Bawumia remarked – referencing the country’s history of successfully organising elections since 1992. “This year’s will be no different. We, as a nation, have become good at it.”
The Vice President emphasised the police’s central role in securing the electoral process; stating that with the Ghana Police Service at the Election Security Taskforce’s core, the country can expect an orderly process.
However, he cautioned against complacency: “We must not rest on our previous achievements, for every election presents its own nuanced situation”.
Acknowledging the professionalism displayed by police during the recent voter registration and exhibition exercises, Dr. Bawumia said these operations provided “a great blueprint and confidence for the main elections”.
He reiterated the need for officers to remain neutral and firm in their duties, noting: “The neutral, fair and firm election policing we have witnessed before should give us reason for optimism”.
Dr. Bawumia also called on all political actors and citizens to support law enforcement efforts during the electoral period. “Ghana Police Service, you have done it before and we are counting on you to do it again. By maintaining high professional standards, you are setting the perfect tone for the nation to follow in delivering peaceful and incident-free general elections,” he said.
“It is the duty of us all to ensure we have credible, peaceful, free and fair elections come December,” Dr. Bawumia added.
Vice President Bawumia recognised that the systemic re-orientation and reform of the Ghana Police Service since Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, came into office have brought tangible results; “results that continue to give me pride 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 Ghana Police Service the reference point for excellence in Africa and beyond,” he said.
He noted that government, working with the Police Service administration, has given a facelift to infrastructure at the Training School.
This development, he added, is helping to bridge the officer/men ratio as well as bringing policing closer to the community. “More officers mean more commanding roles can be filled across the country; bringing scientific methods learned at the academy to the doorsteps of ordinary Ghanaians.”
In outlining improvements to the police service, the Vice President announced provision of 630 new housing units and 720 new vehicles; 5,150 motorbikes and 4 new ultra-modern police stations; completion of new regional police headquarters in Wa and Kasoa; expansion of police regions from 17 to 25; and the establishment of 180 bases for rapid response units
Additionally, he said government has launched a Police Emergency Medical Intervention Fund with a US$1million seed fund to provide medical care for officers nationally, with over 20 officers benefitting so far.
In all, a total of 430 Cadet Officers of the 53rd Cadet Course were commissioned into the Senior Police Officers Corps as Assistant Superintendents of Police.
The graduating class has been exposed to contemporary Police Management and Administration, Criminal Investigation, Practical Police Duties, High Risk Operation Training and community engagement strategies.
