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Be Fair, Firm And Fearless – Dr Bawumia Charges 340 Fresh Senior Police Officers
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has charged the men and women of the Ghana Police Service to live above reproach, constantly review and renew the tenets and practices of keeping the peace, and foster closer police-civilian relations, especially as the nation prepares for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.
“You should be, first, exemplary law-abiding citizens for others to emulate. As professionals, always remember to treat people the way you wish yourselves, spouse or children to be treated. Therefore, in enforcing the law, be fair, firm and fearless,” Dr Bawumia stated on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
Vice President Bawumia made the call at the 52nd Cadet Officers’ Graduation Parade of the Ghana Police Service at the Ghana Police Academy, Tesano, Accra. 340 candidates, made up of 260 men and 84 women, were appointed into the Senior Officer Corps of the Ghana Police Service to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police after six months of rigorous academic and practical training in the changing dynamics of policing.
The Vice President expressed satisfaction with the on-going paradigm shift in the training regime of Cadet Officers, noting that apart from a significant blend of theory and practical outlook, the training is also tailored to meet emerging dynamics of democratic policing, underscored by integrated working with stakeholders and strengthened by a more confident and practically oriented law enforcement leadership at the District and Unit levels across the country.
“The feedback and performance outcomes from the field by products of this reform initiative have been inspiring. I congratulate you as beneficiaries of this training reform agenda and urge you all to work hard to maintain and improve the standards set by your predecessors to enhance safety and security for socio-economic development of our communities.”
Government, he assured, is committed to resourcing the Police Service to enable it continue to play its constitutional role of maintaining law and order for all citizens to go about their businesses without let or hindrance.
“In the light of this commitment, construction of additional infrastructure such as lecture rooms, ultra-modern auditorium and residential accommodation is nearing completion at the Academy. This is intended to improve teaching and learning and to adequately accommodate the increasing number of officers admitted to the Academy.
“Also, the Government continues to support the decentralization efforts of the Formed Police Unit across the country. So far over 122 bases have been established across the country. In addition to provision of motorbikes and related equipment of law enforcement, more mobilization of resources is on-going to ensure these FPU bases are self-sustaining.”
Dr Bawumia lauded the strides made so far by the Police Administration in leveraging on the ongoing government digitization and digitalization agenda to strengthen the Police reforms initiatives and improve law enforcement service delivery, resulting in the deployment of the digital solution tool christened “TRAFFITECH-GH”, to streamline the enforcement of road traffic laws and regulations to improve road safety in Ghana.
“It is also commendable to note the comprehensive reorganization, training and decentralization of the Cybercrime Unit across all 25 regional police commands across the country in line with its broader goals of modernizing the Police Service to complement criminal investigations and also adequately tackle emerging threats in the digital space.
“Not only focusing on crime but you have also maximized opportunities to expand and deepen decentralization of your criminal record clearance services across the 25 Regional Police Commands this year within the overall framework of the Ghana Police Services Transformational Agenda aimed to improve police service delivery to the populace.”
Alluding to the upcoming polls, Dr Bawumia urged the Ghana Police Service, especially the graduating officers, to maintain the Service’s long-held reputation for professionalism in the discharge of its duties, noting that the Ghanaian public expects the Police to be proactive and accountable.
“There is no doubt that the Police have been a credible lead institution in the provision of internal security in the democratic journey of the country since independence and their long experiences and professionalism will once again be called upon in the coming elections. As you graduate from here, much will be expected of you to support and maintain the long-standing professionalism in providing the needed security before, during and after the elections in the communities that you will be deployed.
Dr Bawumia reminded personnel of the GPS that the Service operates with a well-organized structure and effective communication channels, supported by a robust command and control system, and urged them to use the appropriate channels to address any grievances they might have.
“The Ghana Police Service operates with a well-organized structure and effective communication channels, supported by a robust command and control system. As the Chairman of the Police Council, I am committed to fulfilling my constitutional role alongside the Council team to ensure that the administrative and operational aspects of the Service benefit both officers and citizens. In law enforcement, leadership marked by discipline, professionalism, and integrity is crucial for success and credibility.
“Fostering a culture based on these principles is not just a preference for the Ghana Police; it is a necessity to uphold public trust and respect.
“Dear Officers, let’s learn to respect our own rules and regulations, particularly by staying within the command structure in handling our grievances. Remember, you cannot find solutions if you discuss your work-related grievances in a “chop bar” or at a friend’s party when even the door to the office of the Chairman of the Police Council is always open” he pointed out.
The Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID) successfully held its sixth (6th) Exchange Programme, hosted by the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) Bank in Accra from March 22 to 23 March.
The event brought together member institutions, partner organisations and Ghanaian public entities to advance dialogue on South-South trade, investment and development finance, while also creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and institutional cooperation.
Organised as a capacity-building and networking platform, the 2026 edition of the G-NEXID Exchange focused on GEXIM’s experience in developing innovative solutions to promote intra-African and extra-African trade.
It also highlighted trade and investment opportunities in Ghana, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader national development initiatives.
The Exchange Programme forms part of G-NEXID’s mandate to foster cooperation among export-import banks and development finance institutions in support of South-South trade and investment.
This 6th edition follows earlier successful programmes hosted by India Exim Bank (2016), BNDES (2017), Indonesia Eximbank (2018), Afreximbank (2019) and Saudi EXIM Bank (2025).
On the first day, participants were presented with G-NEXID institutional information and received an update on the Network’s 2026 work programme.
There were a series of substantive presentations, including an overview of the Ghanaian economy by the Ministry of Finance, with particular attention to debt-related challenges; a presentation by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), on investment opportunities in the country; and institutional presentations by GEXIM and Development Bank Ghana (DBG) on their respective mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Discussions during the sessions underscored strong interest in sector-focused webinars and business dialogues, particularly in agribusiness value chains such as poultry and rice.
Participants also emphasized the importance of continued information exchange and the sharing of best practices, especially in the area of guarantees.
The second day opened with a presentation on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, a national economic transformation strategy launched by President John Dramani Mahama in July 2025.
The initiative aims to enhance economic productivity through continuous industrial activity, accelerated export development and strategic import substitution.
As the programme is expected to mobilise both private and development capital, it presents concrete opportunities for G-NEXID members in areas such as co-financing, guarantees, trade finance and technical cooperation.
The programme also featured institutional presentations by guest organisations, namely the African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD), which shared their mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Following these exchanges, the G-NEXID Secretariat held bilateral discussions with both institutions as part of the Network’s ongoing membership drive.
Participants further benefited from a presentation by the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), as well as a showcase of GEXIM’s key pipeline projects.
On the margins of the Exchange Programme, G-NEXID members also held their 20th Annual General Assembly Meeting to review progress and discuss strategic priorities.
Following the event, participants joined the GEXIM@10 International Conference, held from March 24-25, 2026 under the theme, “A Decade of Enabling Export Trade and Industrial Transformation: Resetting GEXIM for the Next Frontier.”
The conference provided an important platform for exploring how Ghana can strengthen its transition from a primary commodity exporter to a more competitive player in value-added trade and industrial development.
Source – G-NEXID
President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, signed five bills including three amendment bills passed by Parliament into law.
They are: Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025; University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Bill, 2025; Ghana Deposit Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Growth and Sustainability Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and Education Regulatory Bodies (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
In a brief remark after assenting to the bills, President Mahama explained that the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2026, scraps the Office of Minister of National Security and frees the President’s to appoint any Minister to supervise the security agencies.
He said it also reverses the name of the office of National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), to the original name, Bureau of National Intelligence, (BNI).
This the President said, addresses the confusion between that security agency and a well-known Ghanaian financial institution, the National Investment Bank.
President Mahama also noted that the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Act, 2026, establishes another University in the Eastern Region, at Bonsu, with three campuses – the main campus at Bonsu in the Eastern Region, with the second campus to be cited at Ohawu in the Oti Region.
The third, the Presdient assed will be located at Acherensua in the Ahafo Region.
Touching on the Amendment to the Growth and Sustainability Levy Act, the President said, “As you’re aware, the act was amended to increase it from 1% to 3%, and so this act reduces it again. That is the levy on mining companies. It reduces it again to 1%, because of the introduction of the sliding scale of royalties.”
He also spoke to the passage of the Government Education Regulatory Bodies Amendment Act, emphasising that amends Act 1023 to grant greater flexibility to private tertiary institutions and the option to Charter.
The Ghana Deposit Protection Amendment Act, the President concluded, is an amendment to an original act that was supposed to guarantee deposits held in commercial banks or financial institutions.
It basically expands protection to include mobile money wallets and other digital platforms, ensuring a wider scope of digital financial assets are secured.
The signing ceremony, was witnessed by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr Dominic Akrutinga Ayine, Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, a Senior Presidential Advisor and a Special Aide to the President, Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, and the Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.
