Koforidua, Aug. 7, GNA - The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson has called on senior policewomen to identify and train promising young policewomen who will succeed them when they retire.

She expressed regret at some senior female police officers who deny their subordinate policewomen opportunities to improve themselves and rather recommend only male officers to undergo courses, "some of them even junior to these dedicated and hardworking policewomen."

Mrs Mills-Robertson made the observation when inaugurating the Eastern regional branch of the Police Ladies Association (POLAS) at Koforidua on Friday. She reminded such senior officers that "it is only when we share our experiences that we become richer in knowledge and skills."

She said as mentors and role models, their lives must be above reproach, adding, "whilst not over fraternising with our subordinates, we ought to make them part of us and have their interest at heart."

Mrs Mills-Robertson paid tribute to the pioneer "Big 12" policewomen, first to be recruited into the then Police Force in 1952, for their legacy of high standard of performance and urged the present crop to emulate their dedication and hard work despite the gender-based obstacles in the system.

The Deputy IGP who is also the President of POLAS apprised them of its aims and objectives but cautioned them to pursue them within the ambit of the Constitution of the country and the Police Service Act as well as other laws and regulations in the Service.

She noted that the impact of the Ghana Policewoman's professionalism was been felt both locally and internationally as they were being used as instruments of peace and stability in the course of their peacekeeping operations in conflict areas such as Kosovo, East Timor, Rwanda and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Mrs Mills-Robertson stressed the need for them to be well informed about current events and possess attributes including the ability to blend physical and moral courage, resourcefulness and a sense of vision in the discharge of home-keeping and police duties.

On HIV/AIDS pandemic, she asked them to "embrace religiously the concept of abstinence, faithful to our partners and the use of condom as the surest means of protecting us and our families against the HIV/AIDS."

On their role in the forthcoming elections, the Deputy IGP asked them and other police personnel to exhibit a high sense of professionalism, commitment, alertness and impartiality before, during and after the elections.

The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Kwasi Adjei Boateng said the government was doing everything possible to provide the Police Service with the necessary equipment and facilities to enable them perform their duties happily.

He commended personnel of the Service for maintaining the peace in the country despite the shortcomings in the system.

The MCE announced a donation of 50 bags of cement as well as additional technical support from the assembly towards the construction of a female police cells at the Koforidua Central Police Station.

The Deputy Regional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Hamidu Mahama, called on members of the POLAS to support the Police Administration to promote high performance and discipline and avoid any discriminative tendencies against themselves.

The seven-member branch executive with Chief Superintendent Elizabeth Allandu as president, had during the week, led the members to undertake clean-up exercise at the Koforidua Regional Hospital, presented assorted items to the Asiakwa SOS Village and an excursion to the Akosombo Power site as some of the activities of the inauguration programme.

An amount of four million, seven hundred and ninety four thousand cedis was realized after a fundraising at the function.