A total of Two thousand nine hundred and sixty-one (2,961) police recruits have passed out from the five police training schools across the country.
1,885 males and 1,076 females make up the first batch of 2022 recruits who have successfully completed the Basic Police Training programme.
Graduation ceremonies were held in the Nations capital Accra, Koforidua in the Eastern Region; Ho in the Volta Region, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and Pwalugu in the Upper East. In total, 847, 416, 361, 612 and 725 recruit areas were trained in the regions respectively.
During the six-month training, recruits learned skills in riding, driving, swimming, crowd control, incidents, disasters, crime scene and traffic management, radio communication, intelligence gathering and community-based patrols.
Other programs include charge office management, access control, arrest and search procedures, use of force procedures and human rights, client care and professional police ethics, tactical progression, weapon handling and high-risk operations.
In addition, recruits deserving of honour for their outstanding performance in the fields they emerged in.
A total of 847 recruits compositing of 327 Male General Recruits, 341 Female General recruits, 140 Male Under Cadets and 39 Female Under Cadets from the National Police Training School in Tesano, Accra, displayed their parade forms including Nkabom, (Unity) Dwennimmen and Nteasee (Reconciliation).
The Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Commissioner of Police (COP) Isaac Ken Yeboah, who oversaw the review of the parade, said the new administration is in a position to ensure that the personnel exhibits internationally Best practices per the vision of the service.
He said this will improve the ability of the police to control the crowds and maintain law and order in the country.
“This is the first batch of recruit intake since the government authorized the recruitment of 5,000 men and women into the service,” said COP Yeboah noting that the second and third batches are still in training.
“For the first time in history, the first Police Academy is running Cadet Officers Course for 308 personnel at a session, which is the highest number witnessed in the academy,” said the Director General of CID.
All Male
All admissions to Koforidua and Ho training schools were male. A total of 416 recruits passed out as General Constables and General Sergeants at the Koforidua Police Training School.
Also, 50 under cadets(graduates) who passed out as General Sergeants at Jubilee Park were officially admitted the new police officers into the Ghana Police Service. During the parade, the Director General of Police Administration, COP Christian Tetteh Yohonu, who was the reviewing officer advised the recruits to set a good example so as not to tarnish the reputation of the service.
He said the Police Administration has taken a tough stance to remove miscreants and criminals masquerading as police officers which are contributing to the destruction of the hard-earned reputation of GPS.
COP Yohuno said emerging crimes, terrorism, cyber-related crimes and changing routines of criminals are some of the challenges that confront the police daily.
This has resulted in increased demand for police personnel to provide more diverse, sophisticated, skilled and specialized services to combat current crime trends.
“To equip police personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively deal with the challenges of modern policing that the IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has introduced a paradigm shift in recruit training modules and a changing focus in policing in the country as a whole,” he said.
The Director General of Police Administration noted that the IGP has Standardised recruit training modules and curriculum, restructuring of recruit training with expanded improved facilities, said.
COP Yohonu said field training is now given equal weight to practical experience to gain field experience under the strict supervision of cadet officers. “Until now, it is mainly focused on improving recruiters’ knowledge of the applicable law,” he said.
In the Ashanti Region, Kumasi, COP Kofi Boakye who was the reviewing officer advised personnel to behave themselves and not engage in activities that would discredit the name of the police into disrepute. He said the police service is such a prestigious organization that it should work to project the name of the service.
In Volta Region, Ho the parade had a unique form by showing the display of public order management and dispatch riding skills in addition to the usual parade drills.
The Director General in charge of Private Security Operations, COP Mr Alphonse Adu Amankwaah, said the demands on the police from the changing crime modes, require special skills to deal with crime in today’s society.
He said that global terrorism has become a problem for every country, so police officers have conducted anti-terror training for all recruits to help prevent any attacks experienced by our neighbouring countries.
COP Adu-Amankwaah congratulated the recruits and warned that the Police Administration will not tolerate any act of bribery, extortion, corruption and violence by officers.
In the Northern Region, four female police recruits have won four of the six awards awarded to recruits who passed out from the Police Security Training School (PSTS) in Pwalugu, Talensi District.
Naomi Bless Mensah was named Outstanding Graduate Student; Agyapong Eunice Dedaa was named the Best Recruit, Abena Frimpomaa Agrippa won the Best Conduct award and Lerika Tetteh was named the Best in Drills. Kingsley Gyau won the award for Best in Practical Training while Osei Owusu Ernest was awarded Best in Musketry.
The Director General, National Protection Directorate, Commissioner of Police (COP) Francis Ebenezer Doku, who was the reviewing officer speaking at the parade told the recruits that the Police Administration is taking steps to eliminate illegal miscreants and criminals masquerading in police uniform to restore the image and good reputation of the service.
Awards
In Accra, General Recruit, Samuel Asamoah Amponsah, emerged as the Overall Best at NPTS and was awarded a baton for his performance, among other gifts.
Sergeant Florence Aba was recognized as the Best Graduating Recruit Policewoman for the Training School.
In Koforidua, General Sergeant Samuel Boateng emerged as the NationalOverall Best Under Cadet, while General Recruit Collins Ahenkorah Afrifa emerged National Overall Best Recruit after topping National Recruit Standardised Examination.
The Director General of Law and Prosecutions of the Ghana Police Service, COP Mr Nathan Kofi Boakye’s son G/ Sergeant Kwaku Aduenin Boakye, emerged the Overall Best Graduating Under Cadet from the Police Training School, Kumasi.
He is the overall ninth best under cadets nationwide. The Ashanti Region also produced the overall fourth best national recruit in the person of General Daniel Oduro Anim who emerged as the Overall Best Recruit at the Kumasi Police Training Academy.
They receive cash prizes, mementoes, batons of honours, and life and disability insurance policies.
The Baton-of-Honour for the Best Passing Out Graduate in Ho was awarded to Sergeant General Daniel Okran Agyeman and the Best General Recruit Award was given to Francis Adjanor.
