Accra, April 27, GNA - The Ghana Police Service has resolved to immediately strengthen security at Police armouries to prevent lapses in the enforcement of rules and regulations regarding the custody and use of arms and ammunition and further ensure strict monitoring. For this reason the Police Administration has directed all Regional Commanders to draw programmes for District Officers to inspect the armouries and submit reports on their stock levels of arms and ammunition at each station and further submit their reports to the Headquarters before May 27, 2005.

This decision was included in the final communiqu=E9 issued at the close of the First National Police Command Conference on Wednesday, where top officers of the Service had converged under the chairmanship of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Peter Acheampong to review the Police Service Instructions and come out with acceptable instructions for the efficient conduct in the Service.

The Conference also resolved to take immediate steps on issues bordering on communication, study leave and Senior Command positions as well as breaches of Police discipline in order to give a face-lift to the Police Administration.

The Conference called on Parliament to expedite action on the passage into law of the Constitutional Instrument, which sought to harmonies the various laws under which the Police Service operated and that which provided for the conditions of service for personnel. It recalled the various attempts made to review the Police Instructions and resolved to come out with acceptable instructions for the efficient performance of the Service.

It, therefore, decided that draft copies of the reviewed Service Instructions be made available to all Regional Commanders for study and further inputs.

The Conference resolved that until further notice, only the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Operations, should approve requests for arms and ammunition from the Central Police Magazine, or in his absence, an officer authorized by the IGP.

It said the Police Administration had hence resolved to sanction officers, who would not follow laid down procedures and further directed all Officers holding enquiries to complete all outstanding Service Enquiries before May 30, 2005.

The Conference applauded the high level of performance exhibited by Ghanaian Police Officers on UN Missions that often earned them extension of service, but said there would be no more wholesale approval of extensions for UN Missions since this affected the chances and opportunities of other officers.

It said approval of extensions might only be granted to persons, who held key positions in the mission area.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Minister of the Interior, stated that it was very important that the hierarchy of the Police Service continually updated itself on the general crime situation in the country through conferences and workshops.

He noted with despair the current spate of lawlessness engulfing the country, citing the recent incident at Mampong-Ashanti where an irate mob destroyed Government property.

The Minister urged the Police to come out with innovative strategies to prevent such occurrences and swiftly bring perpetrators to book. Papa Owusu-Ankomah also expressed concern about the general public perception of the Police, which discouraged the public in confiding in the officers and said this should give way to a friendlier Police workforce in whom citizens could confidently put their trust.

He cautioned officers, who extorted monies from the public, to desist from the act or face the law it reported.

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, stressed the need for the Police Service to work in collaboration with other agencies under the Ministry of the Interior as well as other security services to prevent a recurrence of the situation that allowed the influx of refugees from Darfur into the country.

He pledged that prompt action would be taken on the passage of the new Police Service Regulation to ensure strict supervision and enforcement of the rules and regulations of the Service.