GHANA HOST 1ST IAWP REGIONAL CONFERENCE
Ghana hosted a three day 1st
International Association Women of Police (IAWP) Regional Conference in
Accra at the Police Headquarters which begun on Wednesday, to make way
for the IAWP Summit in September this year in South Africa.
The 1st Regional Conference, which was attended by 18
member states, was dubbed, “Advancing Women in Law Enforcement in Africa
through Networking and Collaboration.”
The 3-day conference is focusing on the theme “Monitoring and
Coaching for the Advancement of Women, Empowerment of Women in Law
Enforcement; the Ghana Experience and progress on Gender Equality within
the Law Empowerment Agencies.”
The occasion, which marked with female police parading and displaying
various skills of drills, was graced by important personalities like
the Minister for the Interior, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Deputy Minister of
Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Benita Sena Okity Duah, and
the Sierra Leone Assistant Inspector of General of Police, Desmond
Buck.
The rest are Ghana’s High Commissioner to Sierra Leone and former
Acting IGP, Mrs. Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, Member of Council of State,
Dr. Rabiatu Dinyo Armah, SA Inspector General, Mangwashi Victoria
Phiyega, former Chief Executive Chamber of Mines, Ms. Joyce R. Aryee and
some members of the IAWP.
Noting the role female police had played in enforcing law on the
Africa continent, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi pleaded for a paradigm shift from
country focus to a continental focus, with emphasis on networking,
communication, collaboration and cooperation, in order to learn lessons
from each other, while adopting best practices.
He added that it was significant that the delegates would deliberate
on how to unite, strengthen and raise the profile of women in the
criminal justice system in Africa, adding, “Women empowerment and law
enforcement are major national priorities for many countries on the
continent, including Ghana.”
“The public is, however, considerably more positive and frequently
welcoming of their presence. In recent years, acceptance by the public
has grown, as women police have been seen more frequently on the street
on patrol and in uniform,” he said.
He said although the security agencies were faced with challenges
such as inadequate equipment, logistics and facilities support, limited
and stale training mechanisms, and occasional unprofessional conducts on
the part of some police officers, the law enforcement agencies must
strive to win public recognition, confidence and trust.
The Inspector General of South Africa Police, Mangwashi Victoria
Phiyega, urged the member states to develop common vision and goals, set
targets, total commitment for transformation, peace and security, and
uphold professionalism in high esteem to attract the right talents.
She further advised delegates to break the glass ceiling where male
officers often occupy top positions, by creating women networks,
advancement and lobbying for women, so that their voice would not only
be heard in Africa, but in the rest of the world.
Mrs. Benita Sena Okity Duah, Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and
Social Protection, in acknowledging roles women, especially the female
police, play in contributing to the socio-economic development of the
country, indicated: “I guess it would not be out of order to convey my
special appreciation to all policewomen in Ghana, especially those
gathered here with us today. We acknowledge their contributions to
policing in Ghana, and wish to encourage them not to rest on their
oars.”
IGP Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan did not resist support for their security
women counterparts, and pledged equal opportunities for both sexes when
recruiting into the service.
He added that the 25 per cent of women representative in the security
service indicated the positive progress the Ghana Police Service was
making in terms of gender equity.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Rose Bio Atinga called for good
policies, strengthening and raising profile of gender equality, and also
urged the participants to put into consideration forming local,
national and continental policewomen unions to monitor upcoming youth to
exhibit high professional standards.
