Accra: Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, has urged the Ghana Police Service to prioritise crime prevention as the bedrock of modern policing. He emphasized the need for the country to shift from reactive policing to proactive strategies grounded in visibility, intelligence-led operations, and strong community partnerships. This approach requires rebuilding trust and expanding early warning systems across communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Chief of Staff made these remarks at the launch of a book titled 'An Aroma of Policing: A Life of Service in Law Enforcement and Global Peacekeeping', authored by Mr Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, a former Inspector General of Police. The 681-page book, comprising 36 chapters, details the author's humble beginnings, his role in shaping the Police Service, and his contributions to community policing, offering a significant contribution to national discourse on law enforcement and institutional transformation.
Mr Debrah highlighted that the event celebrated not only the life and service of a distinguished public servant but also a deeper national commitment to reflection and reform. He stressed the importance of investing in leaders who are operationally competent and committed to mentorship, innovation, and continuous learning. He called for urgent specialist training in areas such as cybercrime, counterterrorism, public order management, forensics, and maritime security as part of revitalizing the police training institutions to build a disciplined, modern, and competent service.
Mr Debrah also pointed out that the memoir underscores the link between welfare, morale, and professionalism. The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving conditions of service, including decent accommodation and health care, while expanding institutional support to enable broader participation, especially by women, in United Nations and regional peace operations to enhance Ghana's peacekeeping profile globally.
Inspector General of Police, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, described the book as a celebration of a journey marked by creativity, innovation, and passion in effective policing. He acknowledged the author's immense contribution to shaping the future of the Police Service to respond to security issues, highlighting the author's tenure as IGP as one marked by integrity and groundbreaking reforms that restored public confidence and built trust between the police and the community.
Mr Alhassan, the author, expressed that even in retirement, his heart remains with the Service, driven by a desire to document his journey to preserve institutional memory and share hard-earned lessons. He noted that the discontinuation of useful reform programs has harmed the Service, emphasizing that institutions grow through continuity, reflection, and purposeful reform.
