The New Patriotic Party has given a firm
assurance to the security services that the next government, under Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will not victimize them based on their perceived political
affiliations, tribes or faith.The party has also assured that it is not
in any way going to use transfers and reassignments “as tools of coercion or
instruments of punishment for security officers.”
The assurance was
contained in a statement, signed by the party’s Acting General Secretary, John
Boadu, seeking to point out to members of the security agencies, who are taking
part in today’s Special Voting Exercise, that the NPP with Nana Akufo-Addo as
President presents a better opportunity for them.
The NPP expressed
belief in the ability of the security services to freely vote based on their
conscience without any influence, and also carry out their responsibilities in
the same manner.
“We have faith in your capabilities, and are hopeful
that you will perform your responsibilities in a professional way,” the
statement added.
According to the Acting General Secretary, just as the
security services overwhelmingly voted for Nana Akufo-Addo in the last election
in 2012, the NPP is of the strong conviction that they will once again vote to
support the election of Nana Akufo-Addo as the next President of
Ghana.
Mr Boadu asked them to take a look at the present conditions in
the country and vote accordingly.
“You go to the same market as other
Ghanaians. You live the same hardships we all live. You feel it. The NPP does
not condone the collection of bribes, nor corrupt practices in any government,
and private agencies.
As you vote, we ask you to consider how much worse
your lives will be under another four years of the Mahama-led NDC government.
Consider twelve years under of these hardships: can you live with it? If your
answer is no, then vote your conscience. We ask for your vote so together, we
can create a Ghana that works for all of use, not just a few,” he
stressed.
The NPP acknowledged the manner in which the security services,
despite the lack of motivation and political interference from the government,
continue to give off their best.
“It is heartwarming to note that even in
the face of being under-resourced, unmotivated, and harassed by Executive
interference, our security services, across all levels, have tried their best to
do an excellent job, on average, in maintaining an appreciable level of security
under the circumstances,” he said.
He however guaranteed that the next
NPP government would secure peace and security for all Ghanaians.
“Under
the NPP government, Ghanaians will feel safe on the streets and in their homes.
Ghanaians will go about their daily business in the secure knowledge that their
persons, property and lives are safe under an NPP government,” John Boadu
stressed.
He added that the party believed that the strict enforcement of
the country’s existing laws by the security agencies, without selectivity, would
go a long way to sanitize the nation and dramatically transform the
society.
He reaffirmed the NPP’s decision to improve the conditions under
which the security services operate through several interventions and policy
directions.
“As part of our overall commitment to improving the living
conditions of our security personnel, in addition to treating members of our
security services fairly, without victimization and interference, the NPP
will:
1. roll out a National Barracks Regeneration Programme that will
invest in rehabilitating and upgrading living quarters of all our security
services across the country
2. review and restructure recruitment into
our security services to stamp out the fraud and cronyism that have been
introduced into this process by the Mahama-led NDC government
3. continue
to recruit additional personnel, with increased recruitment of women, into our
security services, and, for the police, we work towards the target of meeting
the U.N. ratio of 1:500 police to civilians
4. provide the police with
modern communication and policing equipment
5. build two new police
hospitals at Sunyani and Bolgatanga to serve the health needs of police
personnel
6. build 2 new police training schools
7. harmonise and
standardise police training across the country, and improve and resource all
police training institutions, including the command college at Winneba
8.
complete the third phase of the 37 Military Hospital project, as well as upgrade
its equipment to meet modern medical challenges, having constructed the second
phase and
9. construct a new military hospital in Tamale to service the
health needs of military personnel and their families in the northern sector of
the country
10. continue local and foreign training for Armed Forces
personnel
11. commit to adjusting upwards peacekeeping allowances in line
with new increases by the UN
12. ensure that personnel who serve in UN
Peacekeeping Missions are paid at their duty post
13. take immediate
steps to decongest our prisons, and introduce a system to separate remand and
convicted inmates, reform pre-trial detention, prison management, sentencing,
including noncustodial sentences, social integration, and health facilities for
prisoners, prison officers and civilian employees
14. offer competitive
remuneration to enable the Security Services attract the best
personnel
15. build two Prison Service hospitals, one each in the
Southern and Northern sectors of the country
16. provide each district
with a Fire Service station where none exists. Where there is one, the NPP will
upgrade it as required to meet the minimum standards expected of a modern,
well-equipped fire station, and
17. in recognition of their multiple
roles, and also as part of the NPP’s aim to grow rapidly our tourism and
hospitality sector, we shall pay particular attention to the training and
incentivization of the personnel of the Immigration
Service.”
|
| |
|
|
|
