President John Dramani Mahama has charged the new Senior Police Officers to perform professionally without fear or favor in their duty, during and after the election.

"We would most certainly be expecting a double dose of that professional performance to once again push Ghana a step forward on the continent, in her quest for democratic growth and stabilization. The nation will rely on you for a peaceful general election in December 2012," he said.

Speaking at the passing out parade of the 44th batch of 196 Cadet Officers at the National Police Training School (NPTS) in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama noted that the new Senior Officers on parade constitute the 44th batch that have successfully completed their Cadet Officers training programme from the National Police Training School for the year 2012.

According to him, the six months programme was aimed to develop a comprehensive programme to make Cadet Officers understand the responsibilities of a police officer and realisation of the relationship between the police and the community.

He continued that the trainees were the first batch of Senior Police Officers who have been taken through the new Police College curricula designed to mainstream Police training to reflect the changing environment, vis-à-vis emerging policing challenges.

" I am delighted to hear that apart from the known traditional Police courses you've been taken through, a new syllabus has been designed to cover courses such as Client Care, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Problem-Oriented Policing, Election Security, Human Rights and the Use of Force, Change Management, Sexual and Gender-based Violence and The Art of Public Speaking," he noted.

The President further stated that the current Police Administration, on assumption of office, initiated actions aimed at image redemption of the service, which resulted in some modest gains. According to him, it is obvious that there was still much to be done because a few Policemen and women seem to be incorrigible and continue to tarnish the image of the Service by their actions and inactions.

"Let me add my voice to that of other well-meaning citizens of this dear nation to entreat the Police Administration to purge the Service of miscreants and deviants as we approach general elections in December," he added

His Excellency also took opportunity to commend the Police Service on their performance in International Peacekeeping duties. This, he said, has enticed some countries in the sub-region to seek country's assistance in training their law enforcement officers.

"We are most grateful to our Gambian and Liberian counterparts for the long standing relationship amongst our countries. We hope to strengthen these bilateral ties. This kind of joint training is a step in the right direction to help us deal with trans-national/organized crimes within the sub-region".

He further assured the Liberian and Gambian counterparts that Ghanaians will remain supportive to their course by enhancing the 'soft' skills of their men and women in uniform. Though this is not the first time the College is training international cadets, it is important to recognize the special position of the College in the West African sub-region.

"Let me sound a word of caution to the Police Administration that the taxpayer will have cause to complain if the over one thousand new vehicles procured are not well maintained. Maintenance schedules must be religiously followed to give these vehicles long life.

In addition, the conduct of your drivers must be effectively monitored to prevent recklessness and fatal road crashes".

As part of the ceremony, some new senior officers were awarded for their performance at the training, this includes best Foreign Cadet Officer which went to Cadet Officer Foday Fofana.

The Commandant's Special Award in discipline and conduct went to Cadet Officer Emelia Nana Yeboah, best in Command and Drill went to Cadet Officer Kofi Aboagye, best in Marksmanship, also went to Cadet Officer Isaac Kumnipah, the best in Social Sciences, best in Police Subjects, best in Law Subjects and the overall best Cadet Officer went to Cadet Officer Gloria Asaah Donkor