To further the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for various communities, officers are taking part in several continuing education courses aimed at promoting positive community engagement.
The JICA’s in-country training program on Community Policing and the opening of the trainer of trainers program on Enhanced Community Policing for the Ghana Police Service is taking place in the Northern Regional capital Tamale.
Speaking at the event, the Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Lavoe, indicated that the initiative is a significance step in strengthening policing through collaboration, trust building and proactive engagement with the communities it serves.
Modern policing goes beyond enforcement’ it requires partnership, empathy and ability to work closely with citizens to prevent crime and promote peace.
In all thirty police officers have been selected to undergo capacity building on Community Policing mechanisms for the Ghana Police Service.
Madam Momoko Suzuki, Chief representative of JICA – Ghana, indicated that Northern Ghana today faces increasing pressures including the southward spillover of violent extremism from the Sahel and internal tensions such as cheiftaincy related disputes.
She noted that the police service has demonstrated commitment to the approach through the establishment of community policing unit and JICA through the Knowledge Co-creation Program has dispatched 9 police officers to Japan for training since 2017.
She further reaffirmed that JICA intends to continue supporting Community policing in Ghana over the next three years (2025 -2027) to equip officers with skills to promote effective community engagement, conflict prevention and participatory safety planning while upholding human rights, gender equality and ethical policing.
Director – General, National Patrol Department COP Alhaji Mohammed Fuseini Suraj who also represented the IGP said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been a long standing and reliable partner of the Ghana Police Service particularly the Community Policing Unit.
This experience has enriched our institutional knowledge and reinforced our resolve to adopt best practices tailored to our local realities. This initiative further enhances the operational effectiveness of our officers, deepen public trust and foster sustainable partnerships between the police and the communities we serve.
Commending the initiative, Naa Yab Dugshgu Lana speaking on behalf of the Paramount chief of the Sagnarigu Traditional area, thanked the Japan International Cooperation Agency for its continued support toward peace building, security and community development in Ghana, particularly at the grassroots level where safety and trust matter most.
Let us empower our youth, engage women meaningfully and promote dialogue as tools for conflict prevention. As traditional leaders, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Community policing initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence, respect for human rights and sustainable development.
By Blessed EDUAMOAH DADZIE
