A five-day training course in Surveillance and Trailing Techniques has opened at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for 50 selected staff of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit.

The course, which is being organised by the French Embassy, is targeted at building capacity of personnel of the unit to combat drug trafficking and organised crime.

Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr Prosper Ablor, Director/General of the CID, speaking at a short ceremony to open the course and also officially receive operational equipment from the French Embassy, noted that complex and transnational nature of crimes require sustained collaborative efforts.

“It is against this backdrop that the Criminal Investigation Department embraced the French Embassy’s technical assistance project,” he added.

According to him, the French Government has been a partner in law enforcement over the years, offering technical assistance and support when needed.

He also recounted that just last week, a five-day training course was organised by the French Embassy for personnel in Post-Terrorist Attack Investigation.

COP Ablor also hinted that the National Crime Agency of the British High Commission intends to train some selected CID officials to serve as law enforcement resource persons, mentors and instructors for the recently refurbished Detective Training Academy.

He said, “This is aimed at sustaining the continuous professional career development of detectives”.

Lauding the French Embassy and government for donating crime detecting equipment, office logistics and five motorbikes, valued at GHC138,000, to the department to enable their work run smoothly, COP Ablor stated that Forensic Science is key to the successful investigation and prosecution of criminal cases.

“Due to budgetary constraints, the Police Administration is unable to meet its financial obligations in acquiring some of this expensive but necessary equipment,” he acknowledged.

The Director/General of the CID seized the opportunity to appeal to other law enforcement partners and stakeholders to assist the CID run its Forensic Science Laboratory at full capacity.

Delivering the keynote address at the short event, Mr Francois Pujolas, the French Ambassador to Ghana, noted that the partnership with the Police Service is a reflection of regional support to combat drug trafficking and organised crime since it is a global issue.

He stressed that co-operation between Ghana and France is a comprehensive one and encompasses issues of politics, security and economic development.

“We would continue to support in any way we can to ensure that the ultimate goal of achieving a peaceful and stable environment is achieved,” he added.

Mr Akrasi Sarpong, Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), stated that the partnership will enable personnel learn other techniques to boost their performance with regard to combating drug trafficking.

He noted that his outfit relies heavily on intelligence gathering to deal with issues bordering on drugs, adding that a capacity building programme targeted at intelligence gathering would go a long way to help the fight against drug trafficking and other related issues.