The Ghana Police Service has set up a 24-Hour unit to support the government in achieving the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development policy.

Security is a cardinal point of the policy, requiring some companies to work around the clock. The police set a 24-Hour Security Secretariat to oversee the security coordination of the 24-Hour economy.

The Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, announced this at the weekend in speeches read on his behalf at parades where 2,705 police recruits and under cadets passed out across police training academies.

The Director-General in charge of Private Security Operations, Commissioner of Police (COP) Daniel Kwame Afriyie, delivered the speech on behalf of the IGP at the passing out ceremony in Ho, where 31 under cadets and 207 recruits passed out from the Regional Police Training Centre.

In Accra, 1,194 under officers and recruits passed out, 256 at Pwalugu in the Upper East Region; 233 in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital; 239 at Kenyasi in the Ahafo Region and 545 in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.

“The police will provide the needed security to ensure the citizenry and workers are protected at all times to go about their legitimate economic and social pursuits without undue hindrances by societal delinquents and avowed agents of violent crimes and lawlessness,” the IGP added.

COP Afriyie, the reviewing officer, therefore encouraged the passing platoon to demonstrate a high level of competence that matched the confidence the citizens placed in them.

“In order to live up to public trust and expectation, you must enforce the law fairly with the utmost respect for citizens and their human rights,” he added on behalf of the IGP.

The Police Administration reminded new police officers to foster a friendly relationship with the public, emphasising that this is crucial for building public trust and encouraging people to volunteer information to the police.

The IGP warned the new officers that the badges on their chests were not intended to intimidate people but to symbolise a pledge to serve with humility, courage and honour.

“Let your conduct, both on and off duty, reflect the high standards the service expects of you and the hopes the nation has in you,” Mr Afriyie said on behalf of the IGP.

He reminded the citizenry that security was a shared responsibility, emphasising the need for the public to support the Ghana Police Service in various ways to provide the best service to the nation.

“Let us demand accountability, show respect and cooperate with the police and volunteer information to fight crime,” the IGP said.

He pointed out that the emerging complex, cyber-related and violent crimes, along with communal conflicts and changes in the modus operandi of criminals, continue to place a significant demand on police personnel.

They need to provide more diverse, complex, skilled and specialised services to address the threatening trend.

For that matter, IGP Yohuno stated that the Police Administration had undertaken a serious review and assessment of the service's operational capacity to address the declining manpower in the specialised operational units.

The Baton-of-Honour for the overall best recruit was presented to Emmanuel Amedome-Reigns.