Accra, Dec. 16, GNA - The Ghana Police Service Administration on Thursday launched a programme dubbed: "Operation Father Christmas" to assure Ghanaians of their commitment to be active during the Christmas and New Year season to ensure the safety of all law abiding Ghanaians. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr John Kudalor, in-Charge-of-Operations, who launched the programme said, "This is our Christmas package to Ghanaians".

He explained that during the festive season the police administration would intensify both the foot and mobile patrols nationwide. "This includes urban and village patrols as well as highway patrols to ensure that crime is reduced to its minimum, new vehicles have been given to the Highway Patrol Unit to enable them cope with present challenges on the highway," he added.

DCOP Kudalor announced that the Administration had also increased the number of police personnel on the roads to manage the traffic situation and ensure that accidents were reduced as well as ensure free flow of traffic. He said police personnel had been drawn from various offices to augment the strength of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) while some personnel had been deployed to some streets and areas within Accra and other regional capitals to beef up the day and night security. DCOP Kudalor said in addition, it had put in place a monitoring mechanism to check all police officers deployed for duties and mentioned that the monitoring was being undertaken from the headquarters, management and advisory board, directors of various schedules and other senior police officers.

He reminded Ghanaians not to lose sight of the impending District Level Elections (DLE) since the police would not compromise with those who violate the electoral process.

DCOP Kudalor urged Ghanaians that the police alone could not perform efficiently and effectively without the support of the public and encouraged them to give valuable information since the reward system was still in force. The policemen present at the launch, chanted songs and shouts and then went through some principal streets of Accra to make their present felt by the public.