The Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Dery on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 opened the third Annual Crime Officers Conference at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters, here, in Accra.  

The two-day conference, which was organised by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) under the theme: “Addressing the Challenges of Contemporary Investigation for Effective Prosecutions: The Role Of Investigators” had two hundred crime officers from across the country converging to be equipped with appropriate skills and knowledge in modern investigative practices. 

In his address, Mr. Ambrose Dery mentioned that, the successes and failures of criminal prosecutions were contingent on the role of investigators during investigative processes and therefore urged the participants to come-up with a road map for Criminal Investigations and their role as effective Crime Officers.

He further alluded, the onus was on Government and the Police Administration to continuously equip personnel with the requisite knowledge and skills to enhance their work and subsequently assured of government’s determination to assist the Ghana Police Service to discharge its duties effectively.

”The Government of Mr. President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is determined to retool the entire Police Service and build the capacity of personnel at all levels to enhance professionalism and improve service delivery.

“The Government is determined to create a responsive, effective and accountable Police Service that discharges its duties in a professional and efficient manner to the expectation of all stakeholders. A Ghana in which each person feels safe” he said.

Mr. Dery mentioned the recent provision of modern communication equipment and 4,500 fragmentation jackets to protect the police and ensure effective policing as a confirmation of government’s commitment.

He used the occasion to remind personnel of their oath to protect and defend the good people of Ghana and all residents in the country, adding that their actions should not dampen the spirit of the citizens who see them as their shield against criminals.

The Interior Minister admonished participants not to relent on their responsibilities irrespective of the challenges but be ready to tackle new trends of crimes, head-on as there would be routine re-training to help them handle contemporary crime trends, investigation techniques and successful prosecution.

Mr. Dery said Crime Investigators played a special role in the Criminal Justice System, so they should conduct proper investigations for justice to prevail rather than allowing hardened criminals to go scot free.

“If investigators do not do their work well there is little prosecution to achieve. As they say, ‘Garbage in, Garbage out’. If investigators fail in their duty, we would be doing a great disservice to effective prosecutions. Hardened criminals would go scot free. Investigators must go the extra mile to gather credible evidence to ensure successful prosecution. Your role as Crime Officers is to supervise every step of the investigations to ensure that prosecution meets the standard of proof. It is for these, among others that you are gathered here for this workshop.” He said.

He further admonished them to show a sense of professionalism in the gathering, processing and the analyzing data as far as criminal investigations were concerned.

Mr. Dery commended the police administration in General and the CID administration in particular for the efforts, commitment, and dedication to ensuring that the investigators and crime officers are professionally enhanced.

The Minister disclosed that, as a form of motivation, police personnel who accept postings to the rural areas, would be promoted every three years instead of the mandatory four years.

The conference is expected to be an interactive sessions for both participants and facilitators.

As part of the programme, Chief Superintendent of Police, Reynolds Manteaw, Crime Officer of Upper West Region and Chief Supt Sampson Agbeko, Crime Officer of Upper East Region, were rewarded for their dedication to work.