Tema, May 26, GNA – Superintendent Kwabena Otuo Acheampong, Regional Crime Officer, Tema Regional Police Command, on Wednesday, called for the strengthening of the media and police relationship devoid of hatred.
He said the two institutions needed to appreciate each other’s standard operating procedures to ensure they work in harmony towards nation-building.
Supt Acheampong said this during the third “End of Month Stakeholder Engagement and Workers Appreciation Day,” seminar organized by the Ghana News Agency.
Stakeholder engagement is a platform rolled out for state and non-state actors to address national issues.
The event is also to recognize the contribution of journalists towards national development.
Supt. Acheampong said the media needed police cooperation and not necessarily police permission for coverage of normal events.
“It is in our collective interest to identify and introduce yourself to the Police on the ground so that in case of any emergencies we can protect you,” he said.
The Tema Regional Police Crime Officer said it was imperative and as a standard operational procedure for media personnel, in some situations, to seek permission for entry into some security installations as means of upholding the laid down rules and regulations of the profession.
He noted that the police and the media were partners in the discharge of their duties.
Supt. Acheampong explained that the public must have confidence in the police as they discharge their lawful mandate of ensuring law and order in the country.
The Tema Regional Police Crime officer explained that it is the Constitutional mandate of the Ghana Police Service to maintain law and order.
“Our functions are to prevent and detect crime, to apprehend offenders and to maintain public order and safety of persons and properties,” Supt. Acheampong stated.
He said the Ghana Police aimed to be a world-class Police Service capable of delivering a planned, democratic, protective and peaceful service up to the standard of international best practice.
He said the Police existed to deliver services in crime prevention, detection, apprehension and prosecution of offenders consistent with the expectations of Ghana stakeholders for maximum protection, safe, secure and peaceful Communities.
Supt. Sandra Akossah, Tema Regional Police Prosecutor, explained that in 1970, the Police Service Act,1970 (Act 350) was enacted under which the Ghana Police Force was transformed into Ghana Police Service to give Ghana’s police organization the attitude of serving rather than applying force as expected in a democratic state.
She said presently, the activities of the Ghana Police Service were regulated by the 1992 Constitution of Ghana with a mandate to maintain public order and ensure the safety of persons and property by maintaining internal peace and security.
Supt. Akossah noted that other Legal Instruments, such as the Police Service Regulations 2012 (C.I 76) also provided some provisions governing the administration and operations of the Service.
The third Stakeholder Engagement and Workers Appreciation Day seminar was attended by the National Commission for Civic Education, Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority, and the Tema Regional Police Command.
GNA