AWARDS SCHEME FOR POLICE OFFICERS (PAGE 38, OCTOBER 1)

The Police Administration has instituted an awards and commendation scheme for outstanding and hardworking officers of the Ghana Police Service.
The new District Police Commander of Kwesimintsim, DSP Ayamga Y. Akolgo, who made this known during his maiden meeting with officers of the station, urged police officers to be challenged by the institution of the scheme to exhibit a high sense of professionalism and carve a new image for the service.
"Recommendation under the scheme would be in respect of members of the service who have displayed exceptional zeal, devotion to duty or display of intelligence above the average or those who perform acts of outstanding courage in the execution of their duties”, he said.
DSP Akolgo said policing should be seen as a call to duty, which required every police officer to be duty-conscious and show a high sense of professionalism.
He said the Service Instructions stipulated that commendations, awards and good work should be entered, recorded and taken into consideration when examining the qualification of personnel for promotion.
The district commander said every police officer should be challenged to perform his or her duties, not only with the aim of winning the award but to help change the face of policing in the country.
"We should be seen as law enforcement officers who derive inner satisfaction after placing our expertise at the disposal of our compatriots and performing our duty diligently and professionally in the interest of liberty and country", he said.
DSP Akolgo said the demands on the police to perform kept increasing daily as new challenges emerged, adding that "it is important for us to recognise that policing is a noble career in the world, so we must maintain its integrity and win public confidence."
"In our line of duty we should display a high sense of professionalism, civility in dealing with members of the public and respect the rights of suspects in our operational endeavours. Remember professionalism entails discipline, honesty, fairness, precision in judgement, neat appearance, lawful decisions and operations, and above all, service to country", he advised.
He said perpetrators of crime were always finding new ways of inflicting pain on the public, therefore "we as law enforcers need not sleep as the criminals are well awake and becoming more sophisticated by the day."
DSP Akolgo told the police personnel that "we have a duty to improve our performance and services, to be efficient and effective, as well as act in accordance with standard guidelines and regulations."
He urged the police to adopt a friendly posture and civility towards the public, but remain resolute, firm and tough on criminals, especially violent crime with high propensity to destroy life and property.