The Ghana Police Service has set itself a target to be ranked among the ten best police organisations in the world within a period of four years.

The charge was handed down to regional commanders across the country at the first national police conference which opened today in the Ashanti regional capital Kumasi.

The two day programme is being attended by all police regional commanders and director generals of the various departments in the police service.

Speaking on the theme “transforming the Ghana police service into a world class police the role of the regional commander,” the Inspector General of police Francis Appietu indicated that the police service owes Ghanaians a mandate to reflect international best practices in police operations.

He indicated that the police administration under his leadership believes that the collective drive of these themes for the next four years, will place the Ghana Police Service among the ten best police organizations in the world.

‘Policing has changed so much over the last three decades, requiring relevant innovation to remain functional. It is against this background that the Ghana Police Service is undergoing a major transformation in line with our vision to become a world class police service capable of delivering plan protective, democratic, and peaceful service up to the standards of the international best practices’.

‘This transformational agenda has the thirteen governmental strategic objectives as a reference point, which the police has condensed into five key things covering the revamping of the criminal investigations department, the professional development of the officer on the ground, strengthening the internal affairs, referred to as the police intelligence and professional standards, and emboldening the community policing with information technology as the main driver,’ he said.

Addressing the officers, the interior minister Ambrose Dery who was guest of honour gave assurances of government’s commitment to provide the resources needed to drive the transformational agenda within the police service.

‘I am convinced that the transformation agenda of the Ghana Police Service, which includes increase in police-civilian interaction, will ultimately bridge the gap between perception and reality. I am glad that the Ghana Police Service has accepted the challenge to do things differently. The police leadership, under the current inspector general is not just committed to doing things right, but has in fact started doing things right. I have no illusions the change is going to be easy’.

‘However, with commitment on the part of the police service and the requisite government support per government’s own strategic objectives to reform the police, change will sharp certainly prevail,’ he stated.

He encouraged Police officers to work hard to change the perception that hangs on the service.

‘I wish to encourage you to work hard to change the negative of corruption that seems to hang on the police service. These challenges have fisted for years, but believe me; this government is committed to supporting the Ghana Police Service to achieving the transformation agenda of the Ghana police,’ he stated.