ABOUT 150 women, who underwent a six-month basic police training programme at the Tesano Police Training School have passed out.
At a colorful passing out parade last Thursday, Director- General in charge of Administration,
Commissioner of Police (COP) Rose Bio Atinga, said the passing out of female recruits would uphold the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination in recruitment based on gender.
She said since 1952 when the first female police women were enlisted, the service has continuously made attempts at mainstreaming gender in its operations.
?Our first female recruits were taken through the same training with their male counterparts and were able to compete favorably with them.
Many women, given the opportunity, have performed creditably and proven beyond all doubts that we are equally capable of taking up tasks being handled by our male counterparts.?
COP Rose Bio Atinga said the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security recommends, among other things, the involvement of women in security, law enforcement and peacekeeping.
This resolution, she said, promotes the participation of women at all levels in security and peacekeeping operations. She noted that out of about 2,402 recruits who passed out this week from all the police training schools about 33% are females.
?This is a clear testimony of the conscious efforts of the Ghana Police Service on gender mainstreaming.
COP Rose Bio Atinga urged the new recruits to prepare to surmount all challenges in the discharge of their duties.
?The police administration has arranged a number of training packages to improve the skills, competence and professionalism of personnel which the newly recruits will have the privileged to attend to enhance their academic and professional competence.?
She advised them to be cautious in the discharge of their duties since most of them will be posted to patrol departments and the rest to other stations and units in the service.
Police Woman (P/W) Recruit Anastasia Seshie received an award for the best drill and physical training.
The best markswoman award went to Mavis Amanor while Augustina Biney received an award for emerging as the best recruit in academic studies. Vida Antwi was adjudged the Overall Best Recruit.
BY Linda Tenyah
