The Ghana Police Service has announced the reintroduction of police public affairs offices at the regional level, marking a significant shift from the previous administration’s policy, which restricted police communication to the national headquarters—a move many Ghanaians criticized as dictatorial.
Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno made this revelation during the opening of a three-day workshop for regional public affairs officers at the Detective Training Academy. He emphasized that the restriction of police communication under the previous administration created an information gap, fueled public distrust, and limited engagement between the police and the communities they serve.
“Effective policing thrives on public trust, which is built through open and transparent communication. Under my leadership, we are reviving regional public affairs offices to bridge the gap between the police and the public,” – the IGP stated.
For years, the centralized approach to police communication meant that only the national headquarters could release official information, leaving regional officers unable to address concerns at the local level. Critics said this not only weakened public trust in the police but also fueled misinformation in a time of rising security concerns.
The revival of regional communication offices is expected to restore accountability, improve public-police relations, and ensure timely and accurate information dissemination across the country.
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Addressing participants at the workshop, IGP Yohuno underscored the crucial role of regional police public affairs officers in fostering transparency, countering misinformation, and building trust between law enforcement and the public.
“Policing is not just about enforcing the law; it is about working with communities to create a crime-free society. This requires a strong, professional, and transparent communication structure,” – he said.
He further outlined three key pillars for police communication officers moving forward: Balancing transparency with confidentiality, upholding integrity in media engagements and ensuring consistency in messaging.
The IGP also stressed the need for police public affairs officers to adapt to the evolving digital landscape, where misinformation and disinformation can spread rapidly.
“We live in an era where false narratives can undermine public trust and create panic. It is our duty to ensure that only accurate and verified information reaches the public,” – he said.
To achieve this, the police service will invest in training, digital tools, and modern communication strategies to keep up with emerging threats in the media space.
The reintroduction of regional police communication marks a new era of policing in Ghana, shifting from a rigid, centralized system to a decentralized and community-centered approach.
As the workshop progresses, police officers across the country will be equipped with the tools and strategies needed to redefine public-police engagement in Ghana, ensuring that the era of information control from Accra alone is firmly in the past.
Ghana|Atinkaonline|Yaw Preko