SOURCE: GRAPHICONLINE
The Police Ladies Association (POLAS) has climaxed its 70th anniversary with a durbar and awards ceremony in Accra.
The climax of the month-long celebration, on the theme: “70 years of Women Policing in Ghana: The Evolution and Future”, featured beautiful drill displays by an all-female contingent at the all-female police parade.
The anniversary celebration also saw the recognition and honouring of the first 12 policewomen enlisted into the then Gold Coast Police Force in 1952 for setting the pace for women policing in the country.
Three living retired policewomen officers, namely: Police Woman (PW) 3 Margaret Darkwah, PW 4 Adelaide Tagoe and PW 6 Gladys Parker-French, received their awards in person, while the nine who had passed away were honoured posthumously.
The durbar and the awards, held at the National Police Training School in Accra, had the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, as the guest of honour.
It was well attended by dignitaries, including the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare; a former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings; a former Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood; the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey; a Deputy Attorney-General, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, among others.
Exhibition of high professionalism
Mrs Osei-Opare commended female police personnel in the country for their excellent exhibition of professionalism in the maintenance of law and order in the country.
She said extensive research evidence showed that women in policing were impacting significantly on law enforcement practices in diverse ways in the country.
“Not only have Ghanaian policewomen won awards locally; they are also highly recognised by the United Nations and the International Association of Women Police. This is a testimony to your slogan: ‘Arise and Shine’, as you continue to rise and shine each passing day.
“We are proud to celebrate you today because of the invaluable contributions you continue to make to the socio-economic, cultural, political, justice administration and human security development of the country. We applaud you all for these remarkable achievements,” she said.
Mrs Osei-Opare said the anniversary had presented a worthy opportunity to reflect and celebrate the progress made by policewomen, who previously could not rise to the level of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) “but today occupy key strategic and command positions, both home and abroad, and have brought confidence, honour and glory to the service and Ghana”.
“Presently, female recruitment into the Police Service has significantly increased from a humble beginning of 12 policewomen 70 years ago to 12,454 out of the total 43,546, representing 29 per cent. Similarly, there are currently 282 female senior officers, out of 1,456 senior officers in the Ghana Police Service, which represents 19 per cent,” she noted.
Government’s commitment
In line with the government’s commitment to the promotion of human rights and the empowerment of women, Mrs Osei Opare said, there had been ratification of key international instruments.