Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned 430 new officers into the Senior Officer Corps of the Ghana Police Service. This new batch of officers, comprising 305 men and 125 women from Cadet Course 53, marks the highest intake at the Police Academy since its establishment.
The course surpassed the previous record set by Cadet Course 52, which enrolled 344 cadet officers. At the ceremony, Cadet Officer Achiburi Issah was awarded the title of Overall Best Cadet Officer.
Dr. Bawumia, serving as the Review Officer and Chairman of the Police Council, commended the officers for their dedication and emphasized their crucial role in the upcoming December 7 elections. He expressed optimism for a peaceful and credible election, noting the Police Service’s central role in the election security task force. “With the police at the center of our election security task force, we are confident of a successful 2024 general election,” he stated.
The Vice President urged the newly commissioned officers, who are now Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP), to exemplify professionalism, fairness, and accountability in their duties. He remarked that the perception of unprofessional conduct within the police has been addressed, highlighting the Service’s recent exemplary handling of challenging public demonstrations without compromising discipline.
Reflecting on recent reforms, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged that the Ghana Police Service has seen significant structural and operational improvements. “The Ghana Police Service has undergone systemic re-orientation and reform, with substantial upgrades in training quality, while government has made strides in meeting its logistical and infrastructure needs,” he said.
Other key government contributions include the addition of 630 housing units in Accra, 720 new vehicles, over 5,000 motorbikes, two regional headquarters, and four modern police stations. The creation of eight new police regions has expanded the Service’s reach across the country.
Dr. Bawumia also called on all Ghanaians, particularly political stakeholders, to collaborate with the police in fostering peace during the electoral period. “It is the duty of all of us to ensure that we have credible, peaceful, free, and fair elections on December 7,” he remarked.
