IGP Receives Alligator Speed Boats For Marine Police

The Inspector General of Police Mr. David Asante-Apeatu has received two alligator speed boats from the Japanese embassy in Accra and the United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs (UNODC) for use by the Marine Unit of th Sevice.

Presenting the boats to the Police, His Excellency Tsutomu Himeno stated that the donation of the boat is part of a broader project worth Six Hundred and Twenty Nine Thousand Dollars ($629,000.00) to support maritime enforcement in the fight against maritime crime within the sub region, particularly in Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. He continued that maritime security is indispensable for greater trade and investment relations for Ghana with other countries, thus proper development will only occur when there is peace and stability.

Finally, the Ambassador emphasized on Japan’s commitment to engage the relevant authorities to help save security concerns in Ghana.

On this part, representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mr. Bernard Henebeng Asamoah also stated that the UNODC is excited to partner Japan Embassy to hand over the boats to the police.

He said UNODC recognizes that, maritime crime poses a serious threat to the safety of the seafarers, International trade and regional stability. He revealed that over 90% of global trade is carried out by the sea and the maritime crime and insecurity on our seas can have a crippling effect on the economy.

He further said that the donation of the boats is one of the major activities under the “Support Maritime Law Enforcement in Ghana, Sierra Loene and Liberia to fight against Maritime Crime”, project.

Receiving the boats, the IGP thanked the Japan Ambassador to Ghana and the UNODC for such a donation to support marine police operations on our high seas. IGP emphasized on the transformational agenda and the fact that the welfare of the officer on the ground is his top priority. “We will enhance the operational capabilities , revamp the Criminal Investigation Department, and make community policing a key policing intervention towards crime prevention and community safety”.

Also present at the ceremony was the Tema Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nana Asoma Hinneh, the Deputy Regional Commander, DCOP Kwaku Boadu Pepra and the Director Marine Police, ACP/Mr. Seidu Iddi.