President Akufo-Addo has charged the newly inaugurated governing council of the Ghana Police Service to fully support the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and his administration to build a professional and strategic police service.

Addressing the council in Accra on Tuesday, the president said his government is prepared to ensure that the police council succeeds in its mandate “to help guarantee that we have a police service that the people of Ghana deserve.

I want to encourage the Police Council to provide the requisite strategic direction to the Police Service that, with the support of other security agencies within our national security architecture, help consolidate peace and security in the country.”

“I have deep confidence in you, members of the Council, to meet the expectations of Ghanaians. I believe strongly that in you, we can help create a society governed by the rule of law and respect for human rights. The Police are at the frontline of this enterprise,” Akufo-Addo said.

Members of the council include; Minister of Interior Ambrose Dery, Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame and a member of the Ghana Bar Association, Bram-Larbi Kwaku Esq.

The other members are Commissioner of Police (COP) Joseph Boakye Appiah (retired), representing the Officers Association, ACP Faustina Agyeiwaa K. Andoh-Kwofie, Ghana Police Service (Senior Rank), INSPR Felix Essuman, Ghana Police Service (Junior Rank), Hadih A. Bin Salih, president’s nominee and Madam Cecilia Eguakun, president’s nominee.

In his remarks, the Vice-president and chairperson of the Policy Council, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, noted that the governing council will work very hard to enhance the professionalism of the Ghana Police Service.

“Police professionalism over the years has been a major issue for the police administration to grapple with. It is refreshing that the IGP has started rolling out many policies and strategies to regain public confidence.

“We want to assure His Excellency and the good people of this country that we will consistently support the IGP and the police administration to consolidate these gains,” Dr Bawumia said.

The Police Council is mandated by the 1992 constitution in clauses one to three of article 203 to;

1. Advise the President on matters of policy relating to internal security, including the rule of the Police Service, budgeting and finance, administration and the promotion of officers above the rank of Assistance Commissioner of Police.
2. The Police Council may, with the prior approval of the President, by constitutional instrument, make regulations for the performance of its functions under this Constitution or any other law and for the effective and efficient administration of the Police Service.
3. Regulations made under clause (2) of this article shall include regulations in respect of –

(a) the control and administration of the Police Service;                             

(b) the ranks of officers and men of each unit of the Police Service, the members of each rank and the use of uniforms by the members;

(c) the conditions of service, including those relating to the enrolment, salaries, pensions, gratuities and other allowances of officers and men;

(d) the authority and powers of command of officers and men of the Police Service; and

(e) the delegation to other persons of powers to discipline person and the conditions subject to which delegations may be made.