Mr Christian Tetteh-Yohuno, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has described as worrying the declining quality of police investigations and pledged measures to reverse the trend.
Addressing regional crime officers at the opening of a two-day conference in Accra, he said, “As the Head of the Ghana Police Service, I am committed to reversing this trend and enhancing our investigative capabilities.”
Mr Tetteh-Yohuno said he was confident that, collectively, the officers could stem crime and restore public confidence in the Service.
“Our crime statistics paint a concerning picture about a decline in the quality and success rate of investigations, which undermines public trust and emboldens criminals,” he said, describing the trend as unacceptable and urged personnel to take collective responsibility to reverse it.
The IGP emphasised that “excelling in investigative work is not optional but our core mandate.”
He said crime officers were at the forefront of the fight against crime and played a pivotal role in upholding the principles of the Service.
Mr Tetteh-Yohuno said officers must take responsibility for the quality of investigations under their authority by supervising investigators effectively and reporting poor performance or misconduct for administrative action.
He urged closer collaboration with other units, agencies and stakeholders, saying, “We must be committed to work closely with other units, agencies, and stakeholders to share intelligence, best practices, and resources,” adding that such collaboration would strengthen efforts to tackle complex crimes.
The IGP noted that evolving crime trends required continuous skills development and knowledge enhancement.
He acknowledged challenges including high caseloads, limited logistics, inadequate forensic support and technology-driven criminal methods, but said these required a modernised investigative approach.
Mr Tetteh-Yohuno advised officers to seek assistance to organise internal training for investigators in forensic investigations, cybercrime, financial crimes and intelligence-led policing.
He urged officers to uphold professionalism and ethics to build public trust and promote integrity, and to ensure thorough and timely investigations, including the prompt submission of crime returns and reports.
“You must hold yourself and others accountable for actions and inactions to promote transparency, build trust, and demonstrate our commitment to excellence,” he said.
Mr Tetteh-Yohuno said the role of crime officers had never been more critical and encouraged them to take ownership of the challenge, work together and strive for excellence to restore public confidence in the Service.
Those present included Commissioner of Police Ms Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department, members of the Police Management Board and other senior police officers.
