Loading
19th August, 2010
Police Accommodation Problems Require Holistic Approach - Minister
DEPUTY Minister of the Interior, Dr. Kwasi Apea-Kubi has said the accommodation problem that confront security agencies requires a holistic approach to resolve once and for all.
In general, he said, the conditions of most of the existing structures left much to be desired, posing a threat to human security, peace and stability.
Speaking at forum for Police officers at the Police Headquarters yesterday, on the construction of 30, 000 housing units for security agencies across the country, Dr. Apea-Kubi said the problem of accommodation for the security agencies seemed to have eluded solution for years.
He said since the 1950s, successive governments had set up committees in attempts to find lasting solution to the problem, but to no avail.
The Deputy Minister noted that his outfit was compelled to suspend enlistment into the Police Service because of to the acute shortage of residential accommodation for personnel.
He said, it was clear at that time that the Service was in critical need of about 2,150 additional police personnel to enable it cope with the ever increasing demand of its work but, the accommodation problem was very chaotic.
‘A total of 6,618 Police personnel were not accommodated at all whilst as many as 7,236 were and are still poorly housed in overcrowded premises’, he said.
The situation, he said, was not different from the other security agencies. For instance, out of 4,700 personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) 3,483 were not officially accommodated, whilst the rest were in deplorable residential facilities.
He said there were plans to create a specialized armed border patrol unit within the GIS but due to accommodation challenges, the idea had been put on hold.
The Inspector General of Police, Paul Quaye said out of the 23,840 personnel, 13, 854 (or 58 per cent) were not accommodated.
He stated that the Accra Central barracks, which was built in 1916 to cater for about 200 personnel now houses 1,200 personnel together with their dependants.
‘It is disheartening to note that many recruits constables who are not able to secure accommodation after their postings are compelled to live in classrooms, canteens, tents and garages’.
‘There is no doubt that this situation affects them psychologically, socially and physically and in turn reflects on their attitude and performance’, he said.
The IGP said the Police Service heaved a sigh of relief when the government announced steps to provide housing units for the security agencies adding that the police have followed developments on the STX housing project with keen interest.
Presenting a paper on the project, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban S. K. Bagbin said even though he was aware that the execution of the project will meet some challenges, he was not determined to ensure that the project was implemented.
He said it was inhuman for both sexes of police recruits to sleep in the same room in some areas.
He gave an example in his constituency, Nadowli, where he had to use his personal money to hire accommodation for some personnel.
The Minister said housing the fourth basic need, after air, water and food, was important to the Police as any other person who required to be housed in a decent environment.
Giving a breakdown of the allocation of the houses to be built, Mr. Bagbin said, Accra-Tema will have a total of 10,185 units, Kumasi, 3,325, Takoradi, 2,475, and Koforidua, 2, 440.
Sunyani, will have 2,775 units, Wa, 2,040, Bolgatanga, 2,110, Tamale, 1,690, Ho, 1,510 and Cape Coast, 1,450. All these, will be executed within five years and will create employment opportunities 90 per cent of which will be for Ghanaians.
In general, he said, the conditions of most of the existing structures left much to be desired, posing a threat to human security, peace and stability.
Speaking at forum for Police officers at the Police Headquarters yesterday, on the construction of 30, 000 housing units for security agencies across the country, Dr. Apea-Kubi said the problem of accommodation for the security agencies seemed to have eluded solution for years.
He said since the 1950s, successive governments had set up committees in attempts to find lasting solution to the problem, but to no avail.
The Deputy Minister noted that his outfit was compelled to suspend enlistment into the Police Service because of to the acute shortage of residential accommodation for personnel.
He said, it was clear at that time that the Service was in critical need of about 2,150 additional police personnel to enable it cope with the ever increasing demand of its work but, the accommodation problem was very chaotic.
‘A total of 6,618 Police personnel were not accommodated at all whilst as many as 7,236 were and are still poorly housed in overcrowded premises’, he said.
The situation, he said, was not different from the other security agencies. For instance, out of 4,700 personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) 3,483 were not officially accommodated, whilst the rest were in deplorable residential facilities.
He said there were plans to create a specialized armed border patrol unit within the GIS but due to accommodation challenges, the idea had been put on hold.
The Inspector General of Police, Paul Quaye said out of the 23,840 personnel, 13, 854 (or 58 per cent) were not accommodated.
He stated that the Accra Central barracks, which was built in 1916 to cater for about 200 personnel now houses 1,200 personnel together with their dependants.
‘It is disheartening to note that many recruits constables who are not able to secure accommodation after their postings are compelled to live in classrooms, canteens, tents and garages’.
‘There is no doubt that this situation affects them psychologically, socially and physically and in turn reflects on their attitude and performance’, he said.
The IGP said the Police Service heaved a sigh of relief when the government announced steps to provide housing units for the security agencies adding that the police have followed developments on the STX housing project with keen interest.
Presenting a paper on the project, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban S. K. Bagbin said even though he was aware that the execution of the project will meet some challenges, he was not determined to ensure that the project was implemented.
He said it was inhuman for both sexes of police recruits to sleep in the same room in some areas.
He gave an example in his constituency, Nadowli, where he had to use his personal money to hire accommodation for some personnel.
The Minister said housing the fourth basic need, after air, water and food, was important to the Police as any other person who required to be housed in a decent environment.
Giving a breakdown of the allocation of the houses to be built, Mr. Bagbin said, Accra-Tema will have a total of 10,185 units, Kumasi, 3,325, Takoradi, 2,475, and Koforidua, 2, 440.
Sunyani, will have 2,775 units, Wa, 2,040, Bolgatanga, 2,110, Tamale, 1,690, Ho, 1,510 and Cape Coast, 1,450. All these, will be executed within five years and will create employment opportunities 90 per cent of which will be for Ghanaians.
Popular stories from Security Services
