The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in collaboration with the German government has kickstarted a five-day ‘Election Violence and Security’ training course for the various security services in the country.
The course will provide information and some fundamental understanding of the roles of the Police and other stakeholders like the Military, Customs, Prisons, Immigration and, Fire Services in the management of the electoral process.
Eighty participants will benefit from the course, with thirty being police officers and the rest from other security agencies.
The target group for the course is officers, who are of the ranks of Major or DSP or its equivalent, or officers with command roles in the upcoming election.
Speaking at the launch of the course, the Commandant of the KAIPTC Maj Gen Francis Ofori indicated that in view of the significance of this course, the centre, with the support of Germany, will replicate it in the middle and northern sectors of Ghana.
In Kumasi, the course will be held from October 5-9 and in Tamale from October 12 to 16.
The commandant said, “the Ghana Police Service is the lead agency of the Election Security Task Force, and KAIPTC, therefore, finds it prudent to kindly request that the Police liaises with the other security services mentioned earlier with regards to arrangements and coordination at the venues in Kumasi and Tamale.”
“Ghana is deemed a beacon of democracy and we cannot afford to let this good reputation suffer on our watch. Therefore, I would like to encourage you to take all the opportunities this course offers you to enhance your knowledge, skills and, competencies.”
He further urged “as a course which encourages collaboration, please get to know your colleagues from different services, because good inter-personal relations between all actors in peacebuilding and peacekeeping contributes to the attainment of the overall goal of ensuring peace and security in Ghana.”
A representative of the German ambassador to Ghana, Christoph Retzlaff, Moritz Fischer, noted “the German Government, since 2002, has supported the KAIPTC to contribute in several ways to peace and security in Ghana and Africa at large.”
“With funding support from Germany, KAIPTC has delivered a variety of courses such as Investigating Sexual Gender-Based Violence, Police Middle Management Course, Women`s Leadership Development Program, among others to security personnel from Ghana, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and several other West African countries.”
He added “since 2016, Germany was able to support the KAIPTC with an amount adding up to over 16 Million Euros. This points out the importance and the potential that Germany sees in the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.”
Inspector-General of Police James Oppong-Boanuh said “the concrete security interventions put in place by us, the security agencies, with the cooperation and support of the majority of the good people of Ghana have led to the consolidation of our peace and security over the period. And I want to commend all the Security Services for their commitment and a great sense of duty.”
Touching on the relevancy of the course, he highlighted “I must admit that this course could not have come at any other appropriate time than this period as it is going to broaden the knowledge of participants and adequately prepare them for the national obligation ahead.”
“Indeed, I am told that this course will equip participants’ knowledge on Electoral Cycle, Conflict Management, Leadership in Elections Security management, Human Rights, Operational Order management, and Community Policing, among others. In addition, the blend of course participants from the Military, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Prisons, Immigration, and Fire Services will greatly enhance institutional coordination and foster effective deployment across the country.”
The IGP said he will make available the Police Conference facilities in Kumasi and Tamale for the replica curses. “Accordingly, I have given instructions to that effect and I have also directed the Director of Transport of the Ghana Police Service to make buses available,” he added.
The KAIPTC assured it has made arrangements to meet all the protocols of the Covid-19 pandemic with respect to gatherings, so as to conduct the course within a healthy environment.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/103.5fm
