Ghana Gets 'Anti-Terrorism' Taskforce

Inspector-General of Police

The first batch of One hundred and forty police officers have successfully ended a one month intensive police training with focus on Specialized Training Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) at the Ho Police Training School on Friday.

The officers drawn from the eleven police regions received training in handling critical security situations including terrorism, violent crimes, mob action, hostage rescuing, armed robbery and the protection of VIPs and vital national installations.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, said the changing trend in criminal activities including terrorism across the world, especially in Africa and the sub-region is a challenge to the security agencies and “we in Ghana cannot pretend not to be concern”.

He noted that “the only way to secure our nation is for us to continuously train our personnel to be abreast with the changing and more difficult challenges of modern policing”.

Mr. Alhassan tasked the officers to live their lives “both on duty and off duty with the highest discipline and integrity” and not see themselves as ‘special elites’ and be demanding for special treatment.

Some of the Officers

“See yourselves as the privileged few who have been call upon to go beyond the normal performance of our duty” the IGP emphasized and cautioned the officers against the abuse of the skills acquired. 

Director-General of Police operations, COP John Kudalor said the officers have equipped to respond effectively and efficiently to violent situations including terror attacks in any part of the country.

COP Kudalor, also disclosed that the recently inaugurated “Formed Police Unit (FPU), will have an ‘Anti-Terrorism’ unit to combat any act terrorism and violent crimes.

He however called for the support of the general public by reporting any suspicious characters in the communities. “The police service is ready, despite our training but we cannot do it alone. Security is a shared responsibility” he said.

New Police recruits on parade

In a related development, 294 police recruits have passed out from the Ho Police Training School in last Thursday after six months of training.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) in-charge of finance, Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare, charged the new constables to uphold the professional integrity of the service in the discharge of their duties.

According to him the police service has so many good police officers and only few officers tarnishing the image of the service. He therefore asked families to help the new police officers develop good social values to compliment their professional ethics for the benefit of the nation.

The recruits were trained in criminal law, criminal procedure and investigation, law of evidence, acts and decrees, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and service instructions, among other topics.

Five recruits who distinguished themselves during the training were honoured, with Isaac Baffoe-Koranteng being the best academician and over-all best recruit.