Eastern Region Police Board inaugurated
Commissioner Of Police (COP) John Kudalor, Director General of Police Operations, on Thursday inaugurated the Eastern Regional Police Management Board in Koforidua with an advice to members not to see themselves as “tin gods”.
“In fact your position is that of providing services to ensure the attainment of policing objectives of the Region” he said.
The Board is to implement management policy decisions made by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in respect of the work, conduct, and the welfare of personnel in the region.
It is also to enforce law and order and discipline in the region and the collective management of human, material and financial resources allocated to the Region in an effective and efficient manner so as to ensure the attainment of regional policing objectives.
COP Kudalor urged the Board to bear in mind that whatever decisions they would take would be in the best interest of the region in particular and the service in general.
He said, “inasmuch as you must be fair to all parties in taking decisions, you must equally be firm in taking those decisions after weighing all the options”.
COP Kudalor said there were several reports of indiscipline among police personnel and even among officers and reminded the officers that since their profession thrives on discipline it must be upheld at all times.
He said they should put in place measures to stop that trend and to ensure the highest policing standards by being very pro-active in making administration of the region very smooth.
He appealed to the Board to ensure that all laws and regulations of the Service were enforced in their spirit.
“For example, on no occasion should there be only one officer on last shift duty at the charge office. The law on stand-by duty men during night shift should be vigorously adhered to”.
COP Kudalor announced that soon the Police Administration would come out with a mechanism where numbers would be boldly written on duty vests to be worn by officers.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Akuribah Yaagy, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, suggested that the Board be made semi-autonomous in terms of financial, material and human resources to make it more competitive as in the case of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
“Where these resources are provided and with minimal interference, the Board should be held accountable should they fail to achieve set targets and ensure an effective law regime.”
Members of the nine-member Board are DCOP Akuribah Yaagy, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) James A. Abass-Abaah, ACP Michael K. Avadetsi, Chief Superintendent of Police E. Faakye Kumi, and Chief Superintendent of Police Amo Ayisi.
The rest are Chief Superintendent of Police James Sarfo Peprah, Chief Superintendent of Police Cephas Benignus Bediako, Chief Superintendent of Police Moses A. Atibilla and Chief Inspector Libabatu Techum.
Members of the Board were later sworn into office by the Eastern Regional Supervising High Court Judge Mr Justice G. S. Suurbaareh.
Source: GNA