SECURITY: DEFENSE AND INTERIOR

TOP SECURITY ACHIEVEMENTS FOR 2009 AND 2010

GOVERNANCE

I) Constitution Review Exercise Underway

II) Anti-Corruption

 a) Forwarded the Right to Information Bill to Parliament for the first time in Ghana's history

 b) Transformed the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into an Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) with more powers and independence.

 c) Assisted the (EOCO) with 12 vehicles, restoring their salaries and building their capacity

 d) Achieved Ghana's highest ever score in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. (ACPI of 4.1)

 e) President Mills leading by example with integrity as he has never been embroiled in any corruption allegation.

 f) Provision of 25 cars to state attorneys

II) Rule of Law

 a) Non-interferance with judicial decisions as we saw in some instances in the past

 b) Prosecution of past officials for alleged corrupt practices

 c) Prosecution of the Yaa Naa's alleged Killers

d) Prosecution of Issa Mobilia's alleged Killers

 e) Establishment of campuses of the Ghana Law School in Legon, KNUST and GIMPA to train more lawyers to meet the country's legal demands.

LAW AND ORDER

To further improve upon the state of combat readiness for the defence of national interest, administrative and statutory processes have been completed and funding secured for the acquisition of the following strategic equipment and logistics for the Ghana Armed Forces as well as training of ground aircraft troops:

  • New fleet of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) Troop Carrying Vehicles (TCVs) etc
  • Engineer Equipment
  • Personal Weapons and Gears
  • Naval Boats for the Navy -including 2 ex German fast attack boats
  • Construction offour (4) hangers for aircrafts
  • Ground maintenance of aircraft equipment Management of Internal Conflicts As part of the effort to support civil institutions in the maintenance of law and order especially in the flash points of the country
  • The Ministry has established a permanent garrison at Bawku and the first phase of the construction of the structures at Basua has been completed and troops deployed to the garrison

Role in External Security

  • In fulfilment of its role in external security, Ghana atthe moment is the 5TH largest contributor of troops to UN/AU Peacekeeping with presence in five (5) theaters
  • As a result of growing trade relations and other economic activities, Ministry of Defence has established Defence Advisors Office in China
  • To help ensure maritime security in the sub-region the Ghana Armed Forces in collaboration with other security agencies effected the arrest of MV African Prince a Nigerian Vessel which was hijacked in Ghanaian waters

Maintaining law and Order

The Ghana Armed Forces assisted civil authorities in the maintenance of law and order in the country. The deployment of troops to the various conflict areas and joint military/police patrol exercises resulted in abating the following;

  • Armed Robbery
  • DrugTrafficking
  • Menace of Fulani Headsmen

Meanwhile:

  • Additional vehicles and other equipments have been procured for the Police Service
  • Ratification of small Arms Convention
  • Ratification of Cluster Munitions Convention
  • National Peace Council Bill sent to Cabinet
  • Facilitated peace in Bawku
  • Facilitated peace in Dagbon
  • Police national strategic plan launched
  • Better coordination of security agencies
  • Facilities for fire tenders approved for supply of tenders and other equipments for the Fire Service which have been procured and will arrive soon.

SECURITY AGENDA

The Government seeks to ensure the maintenance of peace, security and stability for accelerated socio-economic development.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND INTERIOR (2010)

The Government ensured, through its Agencies, the maintenance of law and order, protection of life and property, narcotics drug enforcement, immigration and border control, humane and reformative service as well as the management of disasters.

Outlook for 2010

Government will continue to provide the requisite policy direction and support to enable the Security Agencies to perform their respective constitutional roles of providing secure and safe environment for socio-economic activities to thrive.

Law Enforcement – Ghana Police Service

Continue to implement the Intelligence acquisition, analysis and application strategy; the Informant Reward System; the deepening of police presence through massive and intensive day and night patrols; and capacity-building of Police Personnel involving programmed training and re-training of personnel to update their knowledge and sharpen their professional skills;

Complete thirty-eight (38) units of its uncompleted housing units across the country, representing 46% (in terms of cost) of all uncompleted projects. This is to house 570 Police Officers. In addition, we shall pursue our proposal of obtaining a grant of for the provision of housing units for 5,900 personnel.

Introduce a new community policing intervention, where two hundred and fifty (250) smartly dressed, well-trained and well-equipped Police Officers will be made to patrol commercial and socio-economically important areas of our communities to interact with the populace, educating them on security issues whilst at the same time gathering intelligence.

Build fifty (50) pre-fabricated houses at hot crime spots across the country to be known as “TENT CITIES” (the Tent City Project) to house well-trained and well equipped patrol Police Officers to reduce, materially, the police response time and bring the Police closer to the communities in need of its services.

Introduce new uniforms for the personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) and other personnel who have constant interactions with the public to improve their appearance and earn public respect and confidence.

Prisons

  • Construction of a Remand Prison at James Camp Prison in Accra.
  • The second phase of the Ankaful Prison will be completed. Twenty eight (28) blocks of flats to house officers will also be completed. Construction of One Hundred/100 Housing Units each, for officers in Accra and Ankaful.
  • Provision of a wide area network to connect the Prisons Headquarters, Maamobi Complex and Nsawam Prisons. Development of software for inmates’ database under British High Commission’s sponsorship.
  • Training of four hundred/400 officers (both local and foreign) to upgrade their skills.

A Task Force has been established to ensure the speedy trial of all remand cases, and it is expected that by mid 2010, half of the remand cases would have been disposed off.

Fire Prevention and Safety

We shall procure more fire fighting vehicles and specialized equipment including Turntable ladders and hydraulic platforms that go beyond 12 floors in high rise buildings.

Establish more fire cadet corps in schools and colleges, as well as fire volunteer squads in workplaces, markets, lorry parks and the communities to handle bush fires and all fires in their incipient stages.

Continue with career development of officers through managerial and professional courses at GIMPA and Fire Engineering institutions abroad.

Beef up the number of water tankers and fire fighting equipment such as personal protective clothing, delivery hoses and breathing apparatus.

Recruit and train 2000 potential personnel, including 636 drivers, to beef up the existing work force and man 212 new fire tenders expected in the country by July 2010. Organise in-service training and simulation exercise in fire fighting and rescue operations in Road Traffic Collision.

Immigration and Border Control

Intensify the implementation of the Border Patrol Programme through recruitment of more officers and training as well as technological support to effectively and efficiently manage the country’s borders. Strengthen and modernise immigration facilities and service delivery.

Seek amendment to the current Immigration Law to reflect current and future trends and scope of operations in a proposed new 5-year Strategic Plan to take account of the expected surge in immigration into a petroleum based economy

Implement an e-immigration system under the World Bank e-government programme to enable the Government deliver predictable outcomes and enhance efficiency.

Narcotics Control

Capacity building including additional recruitment to effectively implement the programme on decentralization of narcotics control in the country. Provide drug detection equipment and scanners at various sites to help curb drug trafficking. Review the existing Government legislation and develop a National Policy on narcotic drugs. Conduct a baseline survey on the extent of Drug Abuse in Ghana.

Undertake preventive and education programmes in the form of educational tours and sensitization programmes targeting the general public especially schools, churches, mosques and transport associations countrywide.

Strengthen and consolidate the collaboration between related agencies for enforcement and control.

Improve office infrastructure and begin the construction of the National Rehabilitation Centre to serve as a research and training centre for narcotics control. Introduce sniffer dogs to complement efforts to combat the drug menace.

Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness

Create 100,000 jobs in alternative livelihood programmes for the Disaster Volunteer Groups and vulnerable communities with the support of the World Bank.

Assist 7,325 households in the southern sector with emergency agricultural inputs with support by FAO.

  • 13,000 farmers to be supported in dry season gardening, livestock production, etc.
  • Create 21,000 jobs for DVG’s in plantation development programme.
  • Monitor and Assess hazards
  • Organize training in Disaster Management for staff and stakeholders
  • Organize administrative/Management course for senior staff.
  • Sensitize public and private institutions on pandemic Influenza and promote personal hygiene and help the institution and communities continue to operate in the face of an outbreak. Continue to provide relief to northern and southern sector flood victims to enhance resilience.

NADMO will continue to hold consultation with affected communities in the North and to determine suitable sites for Dams for irrigation purposes and/or small scale power generation, as well as the provision of potable water.

With support from the Dutch government undertake the feasibility studies for the establishment of a sub-regional International Centre for Emergency Technologies (ICET) or the Pre-Hospital phase Emergency Phase with a grant of €180,000.

Organize two full-scale simulation exercises on oil and chemical spill, earthquake and fires in collaboration with Tullow Oil Company.

Small Arms Control & Management

Government will facilitate the implementation of the programmes

  • Evaluate the National Programme of action on Small Arms, continue the regional sensitisation and awareness creation campaigns against Small Arms
  • Proliferation and update the baseline survey on small arms in Ghana.
  • Embark on comprehensive programme of destruction of illegal arms, provide alternative livelihood for local arms manufacturers and forster closer collaboration with ECOWAS countries in addressing proliferation of small arms in West Africa.
  • Improve and expand technological communications and organisational infrastructure of the collaborating agencies, especially the police.

Management of Refugees

Key activities planned for the year are to:

  • Identify appropriate sites for refugee settlements with a view to relocate Refugees outside Accra
  • Continue to provide legal protection for refugees and asylum seekers
  • Public education and awareness creation on refugee issues.
  • Capacity Building for Stakeholders

National Defense

Government maintained the existing level of internal security operations and provided credible deterrence in defending our national interests including the new oil finds. Government also intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking by land or sea.

Combating Crime and Promotion of Peace

In line with the aim of creating an enabling environment for “a Better Ghana”, Government facilitated the combating of crime especially armed robbery. The deployment of troops along the Volta Lake continued in order to provide safe river transportation on the lake.

Re-equipping the Ghana Armed Forces

Government concluded an agreement for the acquisition of strategic equipment for the Ghana Armed Forces including the acquisition of 2 Fast Patrol Boats (FPB) for the Ghana Navy, Construction of hangers for the Ghana Air Force and additional top-up equipment for all UN Missions.

Human Resource Development

Government facilitated capacity building of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) through various training exercises and upgrading courses. In addition, eighty-eight (88) Officers Cadets were commissioned. The planned recruitment programme of 1,200 young men and women was cancelled due to administrative challenges.

New Office Complex

Movement to the new ultra-modern office complex is in progress. The complex was funded partly with a grant from the Chinese Government and partly with matching fund provided by the Government of Ghana.

Rehabilitation of Naval Slipway in Sekondi

The rehabilitation of the Naval Slipway at Sekondi is almost completed. The project when completed will be an additional source of income generating activity for the Ghana Armed Forces.

Medical Services

The installation of new medical equipment at the 37 Military Hospital is in progress. Also, a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit has been established at the hospital to help improve health delivery service.

Other Major Activities Earmarked For the Year Include The Following:

  • Improve upon the combat readiness of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force through the provision of major and strategic equipment requirements.
  • Conduct intensive sea and air patrols in the country’s territorial waters and air space especially the fisheries grounds and the newly discovered oil fields to protect the nation’s maritime assets;
  • Re-equipping and resourcing the Engineer Corps of the Ghana Armed Forces to help with the infrastructural development of the country, especially in the rural areas.
  • Fully equip and deploy an average of 1,500 All Ranks daily on Internal Security Operations and 5,000 All Ranks on External Peacekeeping Operations; and
  • Continue with the GAF Housing and Office Accommodation projects


OUTLOOK FOR 2010

Government will continue to ensure a peaceful security environment for sustained economic growth and development. To this end, operations aimed at combating and neutralizing internal security threats, armed robbery, illegal narcotics trade, smuggling of petroleum products across the borders, environmental degradation such as illegal felling of trees, mining and flushing out of alien herdsmen will be sustained.

Other major activities earmarked for the year include the following:-

  • Conduct intensive sea and air patrols in the country’s territorial waters and air space especially the fisheries grounds and the newly discovered oil fields to protect the nation’s maritime assets;
  • Improve upon the combat readiness of GAF by repairing and maintaining Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), naval ships as well as refurbish and maintain Ghana Air Force aircraft and procure soft-skin vehicles and combat equipment;
  • Improve human resource capacity of GAF personnel to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency;
  • Fully equip and deploy an average of 1,500 All Ranks daily on Internal Security Operations and 5,000 All Ranks on External peacekeeping Operations; and
  • Continue with the GAF Housing and office accommodation projects.


OUTLOOK FOR 2009

The Ghana Police Service will implement measures to ensure adequate protection of life and property. Adequate logistics will be provided to facilitate effective and efficient crime prevention and detection. ICT will be introduced as a key instrument to improve on our data collection and management systems. Serious efforts will be made in scaling up inner city, town and highway patrols. Rapid Response Units will be engineered and equiped to deliver better services.

A review of the current recruitment processes and procedures will be undertaken. Training will also be provided to our service personnel focusing on strength, integrity and general improvements in our service.

We will ensure the safety and security of every Ghanaian so that they can undertake their business activity and live in a safe and secure community. More personnel will be trained in Community policing and we will revive and support the neighborhood watch dog committees. New Divisional and District Offices will be established to ensure better policing of our communities.

In addition efforts will be made to strengthen disaster prevention, regulate and monitor the entry, stay and exit of nationals of all countries as well as the development of a highly efficient and humane custodial and reformatory system.
To ensure the peaceful coexistence, the National Peace Council will scale up capacity building programmes on conflict management, resolution, prevention and transformation through the organization of conflict sensitive reporting workshops for journalists.

Government will collaborate with our neighboring countries in the ECOWAS member countries in addressing proliferation of small arms in West Africa and establish a national computerized database on small arms. Programmes will be implemented to provide alternative livelihood for local arms manufacturers thereby fulfilling the objectives of the National Programme of Action on Small Arms.

Ghana National Fire Service will begin the construction of 100 housing units for officers of the Ghana Prison Service at Ankaful and continue the extension work to Prisons Headquarters building as well as link all Prison establishments to Prisons Headquarters through ICT. The Nsawam Medium Security prison will be rehabilitated and training will be conducted for different categories of offices to improve the prison service.

Government will improve fire fighting capabilities of the Fire Service by having constant in-service training, simulation exercises and replenish fire combat stock and procure other fire fighting equipments and materials.

The Ghana Immigration Service will continue to strengthen the management system and modernize infrastructural and Technological capacities at the country‟s border controls. Intelligence operations will also be expanded and fraud detection facilities will be improved.

We will undertake regular performance evaluation of the enhanced border security system and create awareness to curb the menace of human trafficking and Strengthen Disaster Prevention and Response Mechanisms.

NACOB will be restructured to respond to the challenging demand of the current drug problems in the country. The Board will intensify its preventive and educational programmes through educational tours and sensitization programmes targeting the general public especially schools, churches, mosques and transport associations.

This will be undertaken through the formation of Drug-Free Clubs in second cycle schools and organisation trainer of trainer‟s workshop for School Health Educational Programme coordinators of the Ghana Education Service. There will be efforts to strengthen the sharing of intelligence within the West Africa sub-region under the Global Container Project at the Tema Harbour. Arrangements have been made to decentralize three regional offices namely; Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale as well as open offices at the two hotspots areas (Aflao and Elubo) and equip the offices with personnel, computers, vehicles and other equipment.

For the implementation of the above activities, an amount of GH¢157,223,942 has been allocated. Out of this, GoG is GH¢153,971,312 and IGF is GH¢3,252,630.l

DEFENSE

Outlook for 2009 

With the view to combating armed robbery, smuggling of cocaine and petroleum products across the borders, internal peacekeeping operations in the northern parts of Ghana, environmental abuses such as illegal felling of timber and flushing out of alien herdsmen, the Ministry will continue to assist Civil Authorities in their internal operations. Other major activities earmarked for the year include the following:

  • Conduct intensive sea and air patrols in the country‟s territorial waters especially the fishery grounds and oil prospecting fields;
  • Repair and maintain Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) procure soft-skin vehicles and combat equipment;
  • Repair, dock and maintain naval ships as well as refurbish and maintain Ghana Air Force aircraft;
  • Improve human resource capacity of GAF personnel to improve their effectiveness in national security matters;
  • Fully equip and deploy personnel of all Ranks in Internal and External peacekeeping operations; and
  • Continue with GAF Housing and office accommodation projects.


For the implementation of the above activities, an amount of GH ¢159,015,198 has been allocated. Out of this, GoG is GH ¢156,568,605 and IGF is

GH ¢2,446,593 .

Performance in 2009

Law Enforcement – Ghana Police Service

With the sudden re-emergence of armed robbery and other forms of violent crime in the recent past which seriously affected the social atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in the country, creating a lingering fear and a foreboding sense of insecurity among the populace, Government put in place the following strategic security interventions:

  • Intelligence acquisition, analysis and application strategy, leading to the establishment of Intelligence Centre in the Service;
  • Re-activation of the Informant Reward System, where contributions of the public in the form of provision of information are rewarded with amount ranging from GH¢ 2,000.00 to GH¢ 20,000.00;
  • The deepening of police presence through massive and intensive day and night patrols;
  • Capacity-building of Police Personnel involving programmed training and re-training of personnel to update their knowledge and sharpen their professional skills;
  • Demand-driven approach to police operational planning by actively ensuring community engagement and involvement These strategic interventions have so far achieved the following results:
  • A considerable reduction of overall crime rate in the country, especially violent and narcotics related crimes
  • A drastic reduction in the overall trend of armed robberies in the country by over 25%, including about 80% of persons arrested
  • Ability to closely monitor suspected robbery activities from their planning stages up to the point of actual commission of crime, thus facilitating the linking of individual perpetrators to specific crimes – using crime intelligence, crime profiles, modus operandi, and other important scientific and investigative indices.
  • So far, about ten (10) robbery/car-snatching syndicates have been busted throughout the country and over 195 suspected robbers have been arrested and between 20 -25 suspected robbers have been killed during shoot out with the Police.
  • About 75% of unsolved armed robbery cases in the past years have been solved since the 10 syndicates arrested were mainly responsible for these robbers; and
  • Police response time to distress calls has been considerably reduced in view of the strategic locations of patrol teams which work on a 24 hour basis within the cities.

Overall, these have brought about relative peace and security in the country, and encouraged by these successes, the Government is vigorously committed to improving upon the adopted strategies and other plans of action in order to sustain the peace.

PRISONS

In the area of ensuring an efficient, secure, humane and reformative Service, the following were achieved:

  • The 95% completion of the first phase of the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison to house 2,000 inmates, including the completion of four blocks of flats to house Prison Officers.
  • In line with Government’s policy to decongest the prisons, the “Justice for All Programme”, which is ongoing, has so far led to the disposal of substantial number of remand cases, leading to the release of some remand prisoners.
  • In an effort to supplement the feeding of prisoners, Government has increased agricultural production capacity of the prisons, especially in the areas of crop and livestock production and food processing.
  • Government has also, as part of the reformation of prisoners, trained inmates in skills acquisition projects such as soap making, carpentry and tailoring, among others.
  • The Prisons budget for feeding inmates has been decoupled from the main budget. A Task Force has been established to ensure the speedy trial of all remand cases, and it is expected that by mid 2010, half of the remand cases would have been disposed off.

Fire Prevention and safety

The Country experienced major challenges in fire prevention and safety during the year under review, and a prominent example is the fire outbreak at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That notwithstanding, some modest

achievements were recorded. The Service was able to undertake the following:

  • To ensure the adherence to fire safety measures, the Government embarked on vigorous corporate fire safety sensitisation education which resulted in the issuance of 2,670 fire certificates to various companies. This generated an amount of GH¢166,809.84 to the state.
  • The Ghana National Fire Service contributed significantly in the rescue of accident victims and related issues on the country’s highways

Immigration and Border Control

With the steady influx of foreigners into the country, Government maintained a strict enforcement of immigration Laws through intelligence led control and technological enhancements to ensure that while Ghana remains a welcoming and attractive investment locale, we strive to safeguard the economic and security interest of Ghanaians vis a vis non-Ghanaians.

The Border Patrol Unit maintained a strong physical presence and intensified patrols at both approved and unapproved routes along the country’s borders to provide maximum deterrence and interception of illegal immigrants, unauthorised crossings, smuggling of goods and other threats to our land borders.I

In collaboration with other security officials, Government officers intercepted several cases of attempted smuggling of cocoa and petroleum products, particularly along the country’s eastern and northern frontiers.

The Service commenced preliminary works on the development of physical infrastructure to provide office accommodation and barracks at selected border posts throughout the country to improve accommodation for officers at the borders. These included Dadieso, Gonokrom, Menuso and Bawku.

The Government set up a special Immigration Intelligence Unit in 2009 to provide information for intelligence-led immigration operations with strong detection capabilities. Government embarked on a vigorous training programme to update the knowledge and skills of officers in contemporary immigration and mobility issues. Of particular interest is the specialised training in the profiling and detection of identity fraud which has become a serious menace in the West African sub-region.

Narcotics Control

The fight against the narcotics menace, at the global level, continues to be a major challenge. Aware of this fact, Government has adopted strategies to seriously combat the menace, and these strategies have started yielding positive results, which include:

  • Improved control of the illicit importation of narcotic drugs into the country through the Tema Port. For instance, by 20th November 2009, 225 Kilogrammes of Cocaine had been seized at Tema Port.
  • During the Period, January 2009 to November 2009, a large number of arrests and seizures containing cocaine, cannabis and heroine were intercepted at the Kotoka International Airport and various parts of the country.
  • Intensified educational programmes including drug preventive education and sensitization lectures in educational institutions, mosques and churches and among some civil society organizations were organized.
  • Intensified collaboration with public psychiatric health institutions: a number of rehabilitation centres were visited, the inmates were counselled and questionnaires on substance abuse were administered.
  • Intensified exchange of intelligence with sister agencies in Togo and La Cote D’Ivoire as well as with our international partners with a view to maintaining a drug free sub-region.

Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness

Monitoring and assessment of flood prone areas were carried out countrywide in preparation for the rainy season which helped to reduce casual flood.

  • Over 350, 000 people along the river banks of the major rivers (Oti, White Volta, Red Volta, and Black Volta) were moved to higher grounds in an anticipation of flood in the three northern regions.
  • In the southern sector, 20,000 persons were moved from the major rivers like Ankobra, Pra, Tano and others, to higher grounds.
  • NADMO participated in providing safety and relief for 176,600 persons affected by flooding countrywide. Over 600 communities were provided with agricultural livelihood support
  • NADMO mobilized volunteers to fight army worm invasion in 16 districts in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions.
  • NADMO in collaboration with the National Development Planning Commission started developments plans for 10 pilot districts one for each region on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Risk Reduction.
  • 1500 teachers in Greater Accra schools sensitized on the H1N1 Pandemic Influenza.
  • Schools Health Management Plan developed.
  • Emergency Management training for NADMO staff and stakeholders in the Central and Western Regions.
  • Upper West, Upper East, Northern Region and National Platforms on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change launched and inaugurated.


The National Technical Committees have completed national plans/procedures for Disaster Management, Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Response, Disaster Emergency Response for Nuclear and Radiological Accidents produced thus we are ready for national simulation in the coming year.

Bill on National Disaster Management Service finalized to replace the NADMO Act (1996) Act 517 to enable the service to perform more efficiently, provide for enforcement of regulations and provide more resources for the service.

  • Create jobs by undertaking poverty reduction interventions such as seedling nursing, afforestation and re-afforestation and livelihood rehabilitation through the formation, training and resourcing of Disaster Volunteer Groups (DVGs).

Small Arms Control & Management

  • Cabinet approved the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Ammunition and their related materials and awaiting Parliament ratification.
  • Engaged local blacksmiths to brainstorm on the alternative livelihood measures which led to a commissioning of a study on alternative livelihood programme in Ashanti and Volta regions.
  • Procurement of border control equipment for the Ghana Immigration Service.
  • Refurbished and furnished 6 regional Police Firearms Registry and developed proprietary software for arms registration and tracking for Ghana Police Service. Organized training programmes to build the capacity of staff of relevant Agencies.
  • To play her forefront role in Regional and Sub-regional initiatives on Small Arms, Ghana hosted the ECOWAS Small Arms Control Programme (ECOSAP) Cluster “B”
  • Review and Planning Meeting in August, 2009 and also participated in the Annual Conference of the NationalVCommissions on Small Arms and Light Weapons in Dakar, Senegal.


In showing further commitment to her International obligations Ghana participated in the Berlin International Conference on the destruction of Cluster Munitions from 25th to 26th June, 2009.

Reviewed Ghana Firearms Laws to pave way for harmonization of domestic laws on firearms such that they are in line with protocols, conventions and agreement that Ghana has acceded to.

Management of Refugees

Government ensured legal protection for refugees and asylum seekers, successfully repatriated Liberian refugees, carried out verification exercise at the Budumburam Refugee Settlement and maintained law and order at the Krisan and Budumburam Settlements.

Performance in 2008 

Within the year under review, the ministry strengthened the effective monitoring of the activities of the Private Security Organizations (PSOs) by firmly establishing a Supervisory Board for PSOs. A draft Strategic Plan for 2009-2011 on Policies for Migration and Work Permit was formulated and consolidated the roles and operations of the Peace Building Support Unit and National Peace Council.

National Peace Council

The Council organised a forum with the stakeholders (TUC, GJA, NCCE, NUGS, the Judiciary and the Legislature) on the Council‟s vision and mission of creating a peaceful atmosphere for the development of the country. In addition, the Council further organized Workshops on Conflict Transformation for Political Parties and undertook various conflict mediation activities.

Ghana National Commission on Small Arms (GNACSA)

The Commission actively participated in the ECOWAS Sub-Regional Small Arms and Light Weapons Survey Methodology Harmonisation Training Workshop, as well as the UN Conference on the Ban of Cluster Munitions in Dublin.

Ghana Police Service

  • The Ghana Police Service undertook the following activities:
  • Increased recruitment of University Graduates and the enlistment of senior high school graduates;
  • Trained 300 Ghanaian Youth and equipped them with skills under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP);
  • Provided adequate logistics to aid the police to effectively patrol most of the crime prone areas within the country and supplied personnel with new set of uniforms and boots;
  • Provided adequate security for both foreign and local dignitaries who attended the UNCTAD and CAN 2008 African Cup of Nations tournament;
  • Procured 269 new vehicles to enhance the activities of the Service; and
  • Created new Divisions and Districts Police Stations in various parts of the country following the creation of new Districts by the Government.

Ghana Prisons Service

As part of efforts to improve living conditions of Prisoners‟ the daily feeding rate was increased from 40Gp to 60Gp. In addition, work on the Ankaful Maximum Security Prison is almost completed. This is to add to the program to ease congestion in walled prisons. Other activities undertaken include the following:

  • The Introduction of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and formal educational programmes in some selected prisons and the Justice for All Programme to address the problem of untried prisoners;
  • The Registration of inmates, officers and their dependants under the National Health Insurance Scheme; and
  • The Acquisition of industrial equipment to enrich the quality of training of the affected inmates.


Ghana National Fire Service

  • The Ghana National Fire Service undertook the following activities:
  • Attended to 3,012 fire outbreaks and effectively saved a number of properties;
  • Established a Road Traffic Collision Unit as an integral part of the Service‟s Core duties;
  • Acquired fire fighting Jackets, extinguishers and other fire fighting accessories to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness;
  • Organized Radio and TV programmes on community and market place fire safety education and fire safety talks for organization and institutions on how to handle victims during emergency situations; and
  • Issued 437 and 152 Fire Safety Certificates and Renewals respectively and trained 647 recruits, 5,870 Fire Fighting Volunteers and 120 Servicing Officers in ICT.

Ghana Immigration Service

The Service employed 750 persons to enhance the country‟s border control and security system Highlights of some of the programs are:

  • arrested and repatriated 63 foreign nationals and 24 foreign nationals working without work permit and GIS authorization through increased surveillance, intensive monitoring and investigation activities and company inspections;
  • the Refusal of entry to 88 foreign nationals into the country ;
  • the Interception of the trafficking of 17 persons across the territorial boundaries of the country; and the processing at various entry points 464 Ghanaians deported from various countries.

National Disaster Management Organisation [NADMO]

NADMO undertook the following activities during the year under review:

  • Trained 233 personnel including 20 Regional Co-coordinators and Operations Officers in disaster management and conflict resolution;
  • Undertook countrywide public education on flooding and windstorms in six major Ghanaian and English languages through radio and television. As part of the celebrations of the International Civil Defence Day, NADMO organised press conferences, floats and durbars to create awareness for workers about reducing risk at their workplaces;
  • Collaborated with other stakeholders to mitigate the effect of flood disaster in the three Northern Regions and other parts of the country and conducted constant surveillance on conflict situations, floods and landslides, mining hazards and slums;
  • Promoted the establishment of woodlots in 10 communities in the three northern regions to reduce the occurrence of disasters and continued the promotion of iodated salt in 10 salt producing Districts; and Supported the national effort at minimising workplace discriminations and stigmatization of HIV/AIDS patients in the Western Region with support from the Ghana Aids Commission.

Narcotics Control Board (NACOB)

  • The Board undertook the following activities during the year:
  • Established two Inter Agency Committees for Demand Reduction and Enforcement and Control to share experiences and intelligence to map out strategies to fight against the drug menace;
  • Intensified surveillance at the Kotoka International Airport and other entry points of the country to reduce drug trafficking, resulting in 63 arrests and seizures of narcotic drugs;
  • Carried out educational and sensitization programmes in basic and second cycle institutions and churches, in the Greater Accra Region to bring the awareness of the dangers of drug abuse to the youth;
  • Held Radio and Television talk show programmes in Greater Accra and Northern Regions to increase awareness of the dangers of drug abuse; and
  • Visited a number of rehabilitation centres to counsel the inmates on the effects of drug abuse.
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