36 police personnel schooled in public relations
Thirty-six police personnel have undergone a two-week capacity course on improved police public relations, in Accra
The workshop, which was organised by the Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the European Union Police and Civilian Services Training, aimed at enhancing the training and mentoring of the officers, to equip them with information for dissemination to frontline workforce and interaction with the public.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr James Oppong Boanuh, in a speech read on his behalf by the Director-General of Legal and Prosecutions, Commisoner of Police (COP) Prosper Kwame Agblor, said the relationship between the police and public over the years have not been the best.
“In some instances, the unprofessional conduct of some police personnel dents the image of the service and deepens wrong perception about the service as unfriendly, corrupt and unprofessional”, the IGP added
Mr Oppong Boanuh called for shared responsibility between police and the public to improve crime prevention and management.
He said the service was training police personnel to be more tolerant, civil and law abiding as the country prepares for Election 2020.
The Director of Police International Relations, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Baba Sanid Adamu, urged the participants to put to use what they have learnt to improve police public relations in the country.
The Deputy of Royal Netherlands Marechausse, Major General Vincenties Bernardus Egbers, assured of his outfit’s continuous support to the Ghana Police Service, to improve security.
Some of the topics discussed were policing ethics and client care, stress management, democratic policing human rights, police-media relations, handling conflicts, mentoring and advising among others.
As part of the occasion, certificates were presented to the participants and the European Union (EU) donated computer lap tops, projector, flip chart boards and protector screen to the Ghana Police Service.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI