The Minister for the Interior on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 cut sod for the construction of a helicopter hangar for the Ghana Police Service at the Headquarters of the Formed Police Unit, Ghana Police Depot, Accra.
The facility which would include a 514 square meter hangar space for four helicopters, two helipads and a parking space for vehicles is expected to be completed by September of this year.
Addressing officers of the of the Service, Mr Ambrose Dery, disclosed that the construction of the hangar and its ancillary infrastructure was in consonance with President Akufo-Addo’s commitment of making Ghanaians feel safe by empowering the security agencies through retooling, manpower development and improved welfare to enable them discharge their mandates to international standards.
He cited the consistent capacity building programme for personnel and presentation of vehicles and other logistics to the police as making good the President’s promise of ensuring every citizen of Ghana feels safe.
The Minister also noted that the setting up of an airwing for the Ghana Police Service was an attestation of this commitment and would go a long way to ennhance security particularly in respect of response time.
“Today we are making sure that we provide the infrastructure that will keep the helicopters when they arrive and hence the construction of the helipad and hangar” he said.
He further disclosed that, 6 officers would be sent to South Africa to be trained as pilot and others as engineers to form the core of the Air wing of the Ghana Police Service and who would also train others.
It would be recalled that H.E President Akufo-Addo has given approval and subsequently directed the acquisition of 3 helicopters for the Service.
MIGRATION OF POLICE FROM CAP30 UNTO ANOTHER PENSION SCHEME.
The Minister used the occasion to assure personnel on the President’s commitment to their welfare and thus would not sanction any policy to move them unto any pension scheme that would make them worse off.
“let me make it clear Mr. President would not permit any change that will make security personnel worse off on retirement or pension. So I want to state clearly, here and now that any such change would not affect the Police nor indeed any other security agency”, he emphasized.
To this end, the Minister admonished personnel of the Service to listen to official sources ie the Interior Ministry and the Police Council for news about the police and not hearsays.
Mr. Ambrose Dery tasked personnel to reciprocate the president’s gesture of seeking their welfare by working assiduously and diligently to ensure people feel safe in Ghana.
He also entreated the Service to intensify their public education on personal and basic security tip bits since security is a collective responsibility.
The Inspector General of Police, David Asante Appeatu on his part said the procurement of the helicopters would indeed revolutionise their operations and commended Government for the gesture.
