'The Police of yesterday is not the same Police we have today' – Dampare

In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 of the United Nations agenda by 2030, the Inspector General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has revealed that his outfit is putting strong measures in place to achieve that vision.

According to him, the state of the Ghana Police Service in the country some years back is not the same as today.

He noted that the management of the police service is working assiduously to change the negative narrative the citizenry has about the Ghana Police Service.

He emphasized that SDG 16 is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, therefore people everywhere should be free of fear from all forms of violence and feel safe as they go about their lives irrespective of their ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation.

He explains that the service is working so that together, Ghana can develop when it comes to security issues.

He made this known during a stakeholder engagement with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) at the police headquarters in Accra to address security issues ahead of Christmas festivity.

Some of the concerns raised at the dialogue include police service providing maximum security during the festive season and beyond, issues relating to demonstrations, minimizing traffic jams in the cities during the festivity.

In addressing the questions, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare assured that the police service will double security for all Ghanaian residents and tourists from the diaspora during the festivities.

He emphasized that the Police Service is ready to accept and receive people from the diaspora during this Christmas period.

"We want to assure you, your workers, your communities, the rest of Ghanaians and the rest of Africa, and the rest of the world at large that this year's Christmas period, December and beyond, will be awesome. The police service is preparing itself to give you a double overdose of security to the level that even when you lose your pin it will be found. Ghana is ready to receive all the tourists. All Ghanaians who live abroad and want to come home and connect with family and friends, we want them to know that Ghana is ready, and all the people who wish Ghana well, Ghana is ready. Come and enjoy our awesome hospitality," he said.

The Secretary-General of TUC, Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah commended the IGP and the police management team for their endless effort in providing security for the nation.

He added that the TUC will work with the Ghana police service to educate the entire population about the Public Order Act.

"We will work with the police service to engage in public education about the Public Order Act so that we can exercise our rights as workers and citizens to demonstrate at the same time we will not come into any confrontation with the police. So the police are urging us, our workers, and the entire population that they are not against demonstrations so let's all follow the rules and obey the law (the Public Order Act) when we want to demonstrate," he stated.