Accra (Greater Accra) 3rd May ?99

Vice-President John Atta Mills on Friday stressed the need to radically transform the culture and ethics of the police to enhance its capacity to respond professionally to the demands of today and the new millennium.

Professor Mills, who is also chairman of the Police Council, said it is essential that the police strive at all times to live by "positive values of honesty, integrity, courage and loyalty".

Reviewing the graduation parade of the 33rd police officers' course during which 50 cadets, including two women, passed out after going through six months of academic and professional training at the Police College at Tesano in Accra, he said: "It is only when you are seen as trustworthy, upright and duty-conscious friends of the community that you will get the co-operation which is so essential to effective policing".

The Vice-President said while the police needed the co-operation of the public to operate efficiently, much depended on the public perception of the average policeman.

The Ghana Police and others world over would have to be prepared to meet the challenge of the emergence of international crime syndicates which continue to assume more serious dimensions, he stated.

The Vice-President therefore, tasked police personnel to review and improve their capacity to respond effectively in order to remain effective in protecting the people they serve.

Prof. Mills said while government is aware of the need to provide the service with more scientific equipment to keep pace with technology, the personnel should also remember the basics of community policing.

The best cadet officer award went to Yaa Tiwaa Danso, who also took the prize for the Humanities.

Cadet Officer Peter Gyimah received the prize for professional police subjects while the best student in Foot and Arms Drill went to Cadet Officer Nelson Opoku.