The Ghana Police Service in conjunction with the Youth Employment Agency has held a forum in the Western Regional capital, Takoradi to sensitize personnel of the police service on their role in the new Community Policing Module.
The module according to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP) Akuriba Yaagy is aimed at bridging the gap between the police and civil society in a bid “to help combat crime.”
The new Community Policing Module will see 36,000 Community Police Assistants working hand in hand with their police counterparts across the country.
DCOP Yaagy noted that with the adequate training being offered in “effective communication skills, intelligence gathering and basic police duties, the new Community Policing Module through the Community Police Assistants will enhance the visibility and accessibility” of law enforcement officers.
This, according to DCOP Yaagy, will serve as a buffer “to crime and help prevent the corruption and potential radicalization of youths across the country.”
The Deputy Chief Executive officer of the Youth Employment Agency, Mr. Ibrahim Bashiru in his address indicated that the agency has recruited monitoring and evaluation officers to supervise the activities of the recruits.
One of such according to Mr. Bashiru will be a “civilians’ oversight body” which will be made up of an Assembly Man/Woman, Traditional leaders, Religious leaders, Women Group leaders and Youth Group leaders in all 6,000 electoral areas in which the Community Police Assistants will be serving in collaboration with their police counterparts.
The partnership between the Youth Employment Agency and the Ghana Police Service, apart from combating crime, will also help address the country’s youth unemployment conundrum, according to the Deputy CEO of the YEA, Mr. Ibrahim Bashiru.
He indicated that it is amongst several policies being undertaken by the YEA in sectors such as health, education and security to provide meaningful employment for the youth and empower them to contribute to Ghana’s socio-economic and sustainable development.
By: Godwin Kpade/beachfmonline.com/Ghana
