Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of the Interior said on Tuesday that inadequate accommodation will not allow an increase in the number of police personnel now.
He said the ratio of the police to the citizen now stands at one to 1085 (1: 1085) but his ministry is not considering an increase in the number now because conditions prevailing in the service do not permit that.
The Minister said this when the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Lu Yonshou called on him at the ministry.
The present strength of the service is 16580. This, the Minister said, is small compared to the size and rate at which the population is growing. Alhaji Yakubu also mentioned other problems like inadequate and inefficient communication facilities, which need to be addressed and told the ambassador that Ghana would welcome Chinese assistance to cover some of the problem areas.
He said the ministry is working hard to improve upon the security situation. “We have to find the killers of our women and also stop the armed robberies that have engulfed the country at the moment.”
Mr. Lu told the Minister that China is committed to strengthening relations with Ghana and would co-operate in every area especially the economy.
He said his government is currently involved in projects such as hospitals, electricity, water, and gold mining among others and expressed the hope that the existing Political stability and conducive business climate would attract more investments into the country.
The Ambassador called for prioritisation of the detailed programme presented by the government for the rehabilitation of police barracks to enable the project to be implemented as early as possible.
He said the scheme for the project is very broad and hoped the government would appreciate its contribution a little.
Ambassador Lu said when the priorities are set, the Chinese government would get involved in the rehabilitation of the barracks and also provide about 50 to 60 new accommodation for the police service.
Source: GhanaWeb
