Since becoming the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) about 10 months ago, Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan has brought many changes to policing in the country.
Apart from enhancing the tent city project introduced by his predecessor, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, Mr Alhassan has introduced innovations and systems to enhance policing in the country.
The Visibility, Accessibility and Patrol Department, the Formed Police Unit to deal with public order management, the establishment of the Police Command and Staff College in Winneba, among other innovations, are all initiatives meant to bring the services of the police closer to the people.
We cannot have a society where there will be no crime. But it is also a fact that the crime rate has generally reduced in the country, albeit there are pockets of robbery cases and other violent crimes reported in the news media.
The Daily Graphic believes that the successes chalked up by the police in their fight against crime had come about because of some of the innovations brought on board by Mr Alhassan, who is a specialist in community policing.
His international exposure has, no doubt, had a positive impact on his policing duties.
It is in this vein that we commend the government for asking Mr Alhassan to continue to serve as IGP. What he has done within the short period in office is worth applauding and we think the government took the right decision.
No mean a person than the Vice-President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who is also Chairman of the Police Council, recently extolled the performance of Mr Alhassan since he (Alhassan) assumed office, as the police had witnessed a number of positive developments.
While congratulating Mr Alhassan on this new feat, the Daily Graphic reminds him that a lot more is expected of him. He needs to stay focused on the positive changes he desires to bring to bear on the service.
If there is any one area that members of the public desire greater changes, it is police professionalism in the handling of cases with the public.
Road traffic management and investigations of cases must be handled professionally and not seen as a commercial venture in which personnel seek to enrich themselves.
We urge the IGP to continue with the image-cleansing started by his predecessor. That way, Ghanaians will begin to appreciate the positive changes in the police in its entirety.
The IGP has an arduous task and we believe members of his management team will provide him that support to help transform the Ghana Police Service.
Mr Alhassan, congratulations!!!
