Accra, Dec. 7, GNA - The Police Administration is to tap the expertise of retired police officers to strengthen its newly established Police Intelligence Unit.

Nana Owusu-Nsiah, Inspector General of Police, who announced this, said the Administration was currently pursuing a programme to get retired officers with rich policing background to pass on their experiences to the Unit.

Besides, some retired officers might also be required to render services and co-operate with the Community Policing Unit.

Nana Owusu-Nsiah said this at the Annual General Meeting of the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO) in Accra on Saturday. The Association was formed four years ago to promote the welfare of retired police officers as well as ensure effective collaboration between its members and serving officers.

Nana Owusu-Nsiah said co-operation between members of the Association and serving personnel of the Police Service was essential for effective maintenance of law and order in the country.

He said the Police Administration would encourage more interaction with the Association to draw on the in depth experience and wealth of knowledge of members to educate serving personnel.

The Administration, he said, would welcome any suggestions and ideas as well as constructive criticisms aimed at improving policing and related issues. Mr Thomas Broni, Deputy Minister of the Interior, said efforts were being made to recruit more police personnel to improve on the current

Police/Population ratio of one police officer to 1,200 residents as against the United Nations recommended level of one police officer to about five hundred residents. He said there were also plans to enhance the quality and skills of personnel of the Ghana Police Service through various training and capacity building programmes.

Mr Broni said the government was pursuing all these initiatives to ensure that the Service had the requisite human capacity to maintain law and order in a safe and secure environment.

He urged members of the Association to bring their experiences to bear on the activities of Neighbourhood Watch Committees and other such voluntary organisations.

Mr C..K. Dewornu, President of NARPO said the Association was determined to play its role lawfully by co-operating with the Police Administration and Civil Society groups to stem crime in the country.

He expressed his gratitude to government for raising the image of the Police Service through the provision of the needed logistics to enhance operational efficiency.

Mr Dewornu urged government to enhance the retirement package and facilities of retired Police officers.