The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has urged newly graduated police recruits to serve with humility, courage, and integrity as they join the Ghana Police Service amid the launch of a new 24-hour policing strategy.
Speaking at the passing-out parade of 1,194 recruits at the National Police Training School in Tesano, Accra, the Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism and building public trust.
“The badge on your chest is not a license to intimidate but a pledge to serve,” he reminded the recruits.
The introduction of the 24-hour policing model, he explained, is directly aligned with the government’s flagship 24-hour economy initiative. The policy aims to create a safe environment for citizens and businesses to operate around the clock, boosting economic growth and job creation.
A central component of the strategy is the newly established 24-Hour Economy Security Secretariat, located at the Police Headquarters, which will be responsible for coordinating security operations and deploying personnel to ensure enhanced police visibility, especially at night.
“This unit will be pivotal in providing the security backbone needed for our 24-hour economy to thrive,” the Minister said.
Out of the total number of recruits, 633 were female and 561 male.They underwent comprehensive training in police science, public order management, law enforcement, and emergency response, and will be posted to reinforce both general and specialized units across the country.
The Minister praised the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for introducing critical reforms that have boosted morale and operational effectiveness within the service.
He highlighted that past issues such as manpower shortages and low morale had hindered the Service’s performance, but new policies, including strategic reassignments and personnel assessments, were already showing results in crime prevention and response.
He also warned against the growing threats of cybercrime, violent criminal activity, and communal unrest, noting that effective law enforcement in the modern era would depend heavily on cooperation between the police and the public.
“Good police-community relations are essential. Intelligence gathering and crime prevention thrive when there is mutual trust,” he said.
The ceremony also recognized outstanding recruits for academic and professional excellence.
Sergeant Digital Sophia of the National Police Training School was named the Overall Best Cadet Officer and received GH₵1,000.
She also received a special award of GH₵5,000 from the Minister and other prizes from sponsors of the parade.
General Recruit Gartey Evans Kwesi of the Koforidua Regional Police Training School was named Overall National Best Recruit and awarded GH₵3,000.
David Ofori also received honors as the Best Recruit at his training school.
The Regional Police Training School in Koforidua was acknowledged as the Best Performing School in the national standard examination.
On behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, the Interior Minister officially inducted the recruits into the Ghana Police Service under Section 1 of the Police Service Act, 1970 (Act 350), and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening law enforcement nationwide.
“Security is a shared responsibility,” he declared. “Let us support our police service, demand accountability, and cooperate in building a safer and more secure Ghana.”
