Changes in Police Command

Page 14: Daily Graphic, January 16, 2009
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Police Administration has announced a reshuffle at the level of its regional command structure and introduced a new Code of Conduct and Ethics as part of measures to inject efficiency into the Police Service.
Three regional commanders and five deputy commanders are affected by the changes which were announced yesterday by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Acheampong.
Accordingly, the Deputy Accra Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Bright Oduro, moves to Kumasi to take over from DCOP Kwaku Ayesu Opare-Addo, who heads for the National Headquarters in Accra, while the Nima Divisional Commander, ACP Angwubutoge Awuni, moves to the Brong Ahafo Region as the Deputy Regional Commander.
The Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Bernard Guyiri Dery, swaps positions with DCOP Rose Bio Atinga at the Service Workshop, with ACP Charles Kpapu Torkor, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Commander, going to the Police Headquarters, while ACP David Nenyi Ampah-Benin, the Deputy Eastern Regional Commander, moves to the Northern Region as the second-in-command.
The Western Regional Police Commander, Commissioner of Police Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, one-time chief advisor to the UN Secretary-General and who participated in the transformation of the Liberian Police, is also to move to the National Headquarters.
Mr Acheampong told the Daily Graphic that the changes were to take effect from between January 16 and February 1, 2009.
He said the Code of Conduct, which would be made available to the general public, was in line with international policing standards to enable members of the public and institutions, particularly civil society organisations, to appraise the output of police personnel.
He said all those affected by the transfers had been duly notified and were preparing to move to their new places.
With regard to the Code of Conduct/Ethics, Mr Acheampong said it was put together from the various rules and regulations of the service and the international policing system.
The IGP explained that it was important that police officers bore in mind that they were serving the public, for which reason they had to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the public through police actions.
Mr Acheampong said the intention was to encourage high professional and ethical standards and promote the integrity of the service.
The code outlines the service’s vision, its mission statement, core values and relationship with the public and the media.