By Patrick Biddah
A start of a 3-day capacity workshop for Police Public Relations Officers, has reignited more Jubilation among a section of the Police.
The Jubilation, follows the suspension of the role of these officers by the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo-Dampare for over four years, when he centralised police information and communications.
The Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, who reactivated the role of the Police Public Relations Officers by organising a three-day workshop, highlighted the importance of the role of decentralised communications.
He said, the workshop is the first step in the collective effort to revamp and strengthen the Public Affairs Arm of the Ghana Police Service.
The resumption, according to him, is critical in the Communication outfit, if they have to remain robust, transparent, and effective.
The three day workshop, which is taking place at the Detective Training Academy at Tesano in Accra, have all regional and Unit Public Relations Officers attending.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Yohuno, emphasized the need for maintaining order, peace, and security, which he said are reinforced through open communication and accountability to the people.
“We acknowledge that no society can effectively combat crime without the trust and collaboration of its people. This is why effective policing is a partnership, one that requires officers to work closely with the communities they serve to foster a safe and crime-free environment”, he reiterated.
At a time when the public demands greater involvement and accountability, the IGP indicated that the significant role of Public Affairs Officers in fostering positive interactions with the public becomes essential and directly impacts police effectiveness.
The IGP, who spoke on a wide range of issues also touched on the police-media relations, said “Over the years, the media has been a key stakeholder in crime-fighting efforts and has influenced public perceptions of our work in numerous ways. Therefore, it is imperative that our engagement with the media be intentional, professional, and instructive, strictly aligned with police directives, particularly Service Instructions No. 7 (S.I. 7), which provides clear guidelines for this engagement”.
He further charged them to move forward and come out of the workshop by upholding principles of confidentiality, more media interactions and consistency in messaging across all regions and units.
“ This capacity training, taking place over the next three days, will equip you with the new administration’s vision, enhance your skills, share experiences, and refine your“, he added.