The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has delivered a powerful charge to the Ghana Police Service to enhance operational effectiveness, deepen professionalism, and embrace modern strategies to tackle crime, election-related violence, and illegal mining.
Speaking at the Regional Commanders Conference of the Ghana Police Service on Friday, 18th July 2025, at the Police Headquarters in Accra, the Minister described Regional Commanders as the “backbone” of policing in Ghana, whose strategic decisions directly impact public safety and the legitimacy of the entire Service.
A Sacred Responsibility to Fight Galamsey
The Minister singled out the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for special praise, commending his “tireless and courageous efforts” in confronting illegal mining, or galamsey, which he called “one of the gravest threats to our environment and national stability.”
“IGP, your unrelenting drive to dismantle this destructive menace shows the Ghana Police Service is not just an enforcer of the law but a custodian of the national interest,” he noted, urging all commanders to fully back the IGP’s efforts.
Lessons from Ablekuma North and a Call for Electoral Neutrality
Turning to the recent Ablekuma North parliamentary re-run, the Minister acknowledged operational shortcomings and called for swift corrective measures.
“As we prepare for the upcoming by-election in Akwatia, I charge this conference to critically examine our electoral preparedness,” he said.
“We must deploy adequately and liaise closely with the Electoral Commission, community leaders, and civil society to ensure neutrality and professionalism.”
The Minister proposed setting up an Electoral Security Monitoring Task Force for Akwatia, to restore public confidence and strengthen Ghana’s democratic credentials.
Confronting Armed Robberies with Data and Technology
Addressing the rising threat of armed robbery, he outlined a set of forward-looking strategies, urging the Service to adopt:
- Predictive policing through data analytics and intelligence.
- Stronger community policing partnerships.
- Special tactical operations to dismantle crime syndicates.
- Smart surveillance tools like drones, CCTV, and AI-supported systems.
- Expanded rapid response units equipped with helicopters, motorbikes and armoured vehicles.
- Continued welfare and morale improvements for officers.
“Security is not just the absence of violence, but the presence of justice, safety, and opportunity,” he said.
Discipline and VIP Protection
The Minister warned against officers providing unauthorised VIP protection to celebrities, politicians, or business figures, describing it as a “privilege governed by law, not a commodity for private gain.”
Any officer caught would face strict disciplinary action, he stressed, adding that the IGP should audit all current VIP protection arrangements to ensure compliance.
New Resources and National Equity
Muntaka Mubarak announced that under President Mahama’s leadership, the government had secured a ₵1 billion retooling fund for the security services, with the Ghana Police Service set to receive a significant share for equipment, vehicles, technology and capacity building.
He assured Regional Commanders that new police recruits would be posted fairly across all regions to improve visibility and response times.
Collaboration with Civil Society and a Golden Era Vision
He commended the Police Administration for supporting initiatives like Mahama Care, where the Service’s role in health outreach and crowd control demonstrated a strong partnership between police and civil society.
In closing, the Minister called on commanders to lead with “boldness, compassion and professionalism”:
“Ghanaians must feel safer, freer and more secure. Let us set the highest standards so that future generations will say, indeed, this was a golden era of policing in Ghana.”
By Peter Quao Adattor
