Accra, May 26, GNA– The Police Academy is set to admit more than 700 cadet officers for the historic Course 54 intake.
This follows an unprecedented expansion by the Ghana Police Service, seeking to activate both residential and non-residential training models.
The move, being championed by Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Inspector General of Police, together with the Police Management Board (POMAB), marks the largest single cadet admission in the history of the academy, Police Brief has said.
The Police brief says the bold intervention is aimed at ensuring that accommodation challenges do not deny hardworking and qualified Chief Inspectors, many of whom have stagnated in their ranks for years, the opportunity to rise into senior leadership positions within the service.
Some critics have attempted to portray the arrangement as unusual.
However, a source close to the Police administration insisted there was absolutely nothing new about the residential and non-residential model.
According to the Police brief, similar arrangements were introduced years ago whenever cadet numbers exceeded accommodation capacity.
Historical records indicate that under retired IGP Paul Tawiah Quaye in 2011, both residential and non-residential models were adopted, while retired IGP P.K. Acheampong also distributed cadet officers across training institutions in Accra, Winneba, and Pwalugu to deal with accommodation pressures — despite the fact that cadet numbers at the time were far lower.
“The immediate past IGP also employed both residential and non-residential models during cadet training exercises. So there is nothing strange about the current arrangement,” a source close to the Police administration disclosed.
The source dismissed attempts by sections of the public and media to create the false impression that the arrangement was problematic.
The source said many officers within the service were praising the foresight and progressive leadership of IGP Yohuno and POMAB for refusing to use infrastructure limitations as an excuse to block career progression opportunities for deserving officers.
“This administration believes opportunities must be created for qualified officers and not restricted because of accommodation limitations,” the source said.
It said globally, police institutions were shifting from residential-based training to non-residential models of training.
“Unlike the training of fresh recruits, which emphasises bonding, esprit de corps, institutional culture, and de-individualisation, continuous training in the shape of career progression is apt for a blend of residential and non-residential models of training.”
The source said statistics from previous intakes at the academy reveal the dramatic scale of the current expansion.
It added that Course 51 admitted 308 officers, Course 52 recorded 344 officers, while Course 53 admitted 432 officers.
However, under the current administration, the source said all 7,500 Chief Inspectors in the service were, for the first time, allowed to sit for the Police Academy Entrance Examination — a major break from previous restrictive systems.
“Following the amnesty granted by the President of the Republic to candidates who scored between 50 and 52 marks, in addition to those who scored between 53 and 75 marks, a total of 1,063 officers successfully qualified for admission.
Additional officers promoted as under-cadets, as well as personnel who distinguished themselves in operational duties and crime-fighting activities, have also been recommended for admission,” the source explained.
The source assured officers that all qualified personnel placed under Courses 54, 55, and 56 would eventually undergo cadet training.
“To support the massive intake, additional accommodation facilities have been secured within Accra, while officers residing within the Police Depot and Tesano enclaves would have the option of participating as non-residential cadets while fully taking part in all training activities.”
The source assured officers that transportation and logistical arrangements were in place to ensure that no officer suffered any inconvenience during the training period.
In another major intervention, the source said the IGP has approved the expansion of academy staff strength, including kitchen staff and support personnel, to adequately cater for the welfare and operational demands of the large intake.
“Fully furnished lecture halls and training facilities have also been prepared to ensure effective instruction, discipline, and a conducive learning environment throughout the six-to-nine-month programme.
At the end of the day, we will not compromise standards as adequate preparations have been made to ensure efficiency, discipline, and high-quality training delivery,” the source said.
The source strongly dismissed allegations of bribery, examination malpractice, and irregularities surrounding the recent entrance examinations.
According to the administration, no candidate has officially petitioned the service over the results, insisting that allegations circulating in sections of the media are baseless attempts to undermine the credibility of what has been described as a transparent and merit-based process.
“Such allegations have no grounds and should be treated with the contempt they deserve,” the source said.
GNA
Reporter: Joyce Danso
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong