President John Mahama has announced that his government has commissioned a Singaporean company to construct housing units for Ghana’s security services.

This includes the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prison Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Armed Forces.

He revealed that the partnership was sealed during his visit to Singapore in 2025, where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the firm to establish a prefabricated housing factory in Ghana.

According to the President, the company’s first major assignment was the construction of a 10,000-student hostel at the University of Ghana.

“But we have also commissioned them to build housing for our Police Service, our Prisons, Fire Service, and the Ghana Armed Forces,” President Mahama said.

He made the announcement during the Ghana Police Service end-of-year gathering, popularly known as WASSA, held at the Police Headquarters in Accra.

President Mahama said the initiative falls under the government’s Big Push Agenda and would significantly improve accommodation conditions for security personnel.

“And so start identifying your lands in your various barracks, where we will build this accommodation so that we can provide enough accommodation for our police service,” he urged.

He described WASSA as more than a social tradition, saying it was a moment to reflect on service, sacrifice, and the shared responsibility to protect peace and stability in Ghana.

According to him, the event also provided an opportunity for officers to pause from the demanding work of policing, renew bonds of comradeship, and recommit to the values of the Ghana Police Service.

The President commended the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, and the leadership of the Service for what he described as a strong security performance during the Christmas season.

“We had a lot of visitors coming into Ghana and there was a lot of activity over the Christmas period. You made sure that crime was kept at a very, very, very, very low level and we thank you very much for your diligence,” he said.

He noted that festive periods often place exceptional pressure on law enforcement due to increased travel, social activities, and heightened security risks.

President Mahama said through careful planning, discipline, and intelligence-led operations, the Police ensured that Ghanaians celebrated Christmas and the New Year in peace.

He praised the strategic deployment of officers across highways, communities, markets, places of worship, transport terminals, and entertainment venues, saying the visible presence reassured citizens and reflected a responsive police service.

The President said he was encouraged by the speed and professionalism with which incidents were handled, noting that reports were addressed promptly, suspects were swiftly apprehended, and criminal activities disrupted before escalating.

“Let us sustain this momentum and send a clear message that there will be no hiding place for criminal elements,” he said.

President Mahama described the revival of WASSA after a long pause as symbolic, noting that institutions, like individuals, must periodically reflect, reassess, and renew their sense of purpose.

He said this year’s celebration represented both continuity and renewal, adding that the theme, “Resetting the Police Service, Professionalism, Integrity, and Building Public Trust,” was timely.

According to him, the theme reflects the evolving challenges of modern policing and the legitimate expectations of the Ghanaian people.

“There can be no meaningful development without security. Every trader, every student, every commuter and investor depends on a sense of safety,” he said, adding that security remains foundational to national life.

President Mahama stressed that resetting the Police Service does not suggest failure, nor does it diminish its proud history.

Rather, he said it recognises the need to adapt to changing realities through reform and renewed commitment, while aligning policing with democratic values, human rights standards, and public expectations.

He said professionalism must sit at the centre of the reset.

“Professionalism must guide our conduct at every level, from leadership to daily interactions with the public,” he said, adding that it must reflect in arrests, investigations, crowd control, and the treatment of suspects, victims, and witnesses.

Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno said the 2025 WASSA gathering was an opportunity for officers to step back from their demanding schedules to appreciate one another and acknowledge their collective efforts over the year.