President John Mahama has applauded the Ghana Police Service (GPS) for its discipline and effective operations during the festive season.

He said the period traditionally placed exceptional demands on law enforcement due to increased travel, social activities, and heightened security risks, but noted that careful planning and the strategic deployment of personnel helped Ghanaians celebrate safely.

“I particularly acknowledge the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno and the Police Management Board for the strategic deployment of personnel across highways, communities, markets, places of worship, transport terminals and entertainment centres.

"The visible police presence reassured citizens and demonstrated a vigilant and responsive state,” President Mahama said. 

He said this during the annual social activities of the police, usually referred to as WASSA, held at the Police Headquarters in Accra last Thursday.

The event, held on the theme “Resetting the Service: Professionalism, Integrity and Building Public Trust,” brought together both active and retired senior officers of the GPS.

The celebration was enlivened by musical performances from the Ghana Police Band and renowned highlife and gospel artistes, including Kojo Antwi, Daughters of Glorious Jesus and the Tagoe Sisters.

President Mahama 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 were disrupted before they could escalate.

He, therefore, urged the service to sustain the momentum and send a clear message that there would be no hiding place for criminal elements.

The President said security remained the foundation of national stability and development, stressing that without safety, investment would hesitate, development would falter and social cohesion would weaken.

Touching on the theme of the celebration, President Mahama said a reset did not suggest failure but reflected the need to adapt to changing realities and rising public expectations.

He stressed that professionalism and integrity must guide policing at all levels, adding that public trust was the most valuable asset of the GPS and must be earned through fairness, accountability and respect for the rule of law.

The IGP described the WASSA celebration as a moment of reflection, appreciation and renewal, stating that policing, like life, required time to pause, take stock and acknowledge effort.

Mr Yohuno said WASSA offered officers an opportunity to momentarily step away from the rigours of policing, strengthen bonds of camaraderie and renew the esprit de corps that sustained them, in spite of the demanding nature of the profession.

Reflecting on his leadership, the IGP said it had been 301 days since the President, in accordance with Article 202 of the 1992 Constitution, entrusted him with the responsibility of leading the GPS, charging him to lead with integrity, discipline and professionalism, prioritising community policing and pursuing urgent reforms.

“I am proud to state that the confidence reposed in me has not been in vain. With the dedication and sacrifice of officers and men, crime has been made increasingly unattractive, making Ghana a difficult terrain for both local and transnational criminals,” the IGP said. 

The IGP also drew attention to strengthened collaboration with sister security agencies in tackling narcotics trafficking, transborder crime, human trafficking and cyber-related offences, commending the National Security Coordinator, the Ghana Armed Forces and other agencies for their support.

On international cooperation, Mr Yohuno said enhanced engagements through INTERPOL and bilateral partnerships had yielded results, including the rescue of two trafficked Ghanaian women from Nigeria and the arrest of a notorious robbery suspect in Togo.

He also announced the arrest of two additional suspects linked to the Adabraka Gold Shop robbery, bringing the total number of arrests in that case to three.

Touching on logistics and modernisation, the IGP said recent engagements with the New York Police Department and the FBI had expanded cooperation in technology-driven policing, leading to an exchange programme to adopt advanced systems to strengthen operations.