The Police Service has admitted that it may have to use the new police recruits to complement the efforts of current personnel in maintaining law and order for the 2016 elections.
Recruitment into the police service is in its second stage with applicants presenting themselves at the recruitment centres in their respective regions from Monday July, 18.
[contextly_sidebar id=”9Tu49SmbmiqFlJLrVOGjtpG3j0EXfRoz”]The applicants will undergo 6 months of training before they are deemed fit for service.
However, with about than four months to go until the elections in December, it appears the recruits won’t be ready in time for the polls.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service Superintendent Cephas Arthur told Citi News in an interview that the recruits are not being recruited purposely for the elections and will only be called upon when there is need for them
“We are at the second stage of the recruitment process which has about five stages. I wish to state that the recruits are not being recruited mainly for the elections for them to provide security. But as and when the need arises, they could be used,” he said.
There have been many concerns raised about the state of preparedness of the police for the polls with many expressing doubt about their capacity to deal with election-related violence.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. John Kudalor gave the assurance that his outfit will prepare adequately to deal with any threat to the saftey of Ghanaians ahead of the polls.
“We will make sure we act impartially and professionally during the elections so that the outcome of the polls would be wholly accepted by all the political parties and their leaders,” he stated.
Police recruitment goes online
The Police Service decided to take their recruitment system online to curtail the activities of fraudsters and con artists who have previously take advantage of the system.
Although the new system has encountered some technical challenges with many applicants having difficulties accessing the forms, this year’s recruitment process has largely been devoid of the problems seen in previous years.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana