CSDS Africa Honors IGP

On Wednesday 13^th May 2020, the Center for Strategic and Defence Studies Africa (CSDS Africa) presented the Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service, Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh, with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh, a member of the CSDS Africa International Advisory Board, was awarded for his dedication to the Law Enforcement profession and his commitment to the betterment of society. Speaking for the think-tank, both Ambassador Brandful and Dr. Angela Lamptey, leader of the delegation and Acting Executive Director of CSDS Africa praised Mr. Oppong-Boanuh’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic from a security standpoint. Police enforcement of social distancing and face masks protocols were particularly eulogized by Ambassador Brandful.

Present at the ceremony were: Mr. James Oppong-Bonuah (Inspector General of Police, Ghana Police Service), Amb. Dr. William Brandful (Member, Governing Board, CSDS Africa), Dr. Angela Lamptey (Ag. Executive Director, CSDS Africa), Nicole-Marie Poku, Esq (Director Legal and Corporate Affairs, CSDS Africa), COP/Mr. Nathan Kofi Boakye (Director-General,  Research, and Planning, Ghana Police Service ), Osei Bonsu Dickson, Esq (Chief Legal Advisor and SGI Coordinator National Security Council Secretariat), ACP/Mr. Owusu Ansah (Chief Staff Officer Ghana Police Service), Mr. Emmanuel Kelvin Gaisie (Programs Coordinator, CSDS Africa (Events)) and Mr. Edem Kojo Spio (Programs Coordinator, CSDS Africa (Policy))

Lawyer Dickson lauded the Ghana Police Service for its performance throughout the lockdown. He urged that while protecting its own personnel, the Service should consider in the post-lockdown period, the adoption of the 4E principles of bio-security policing, namely –  Engage, Explain, Encourage, and Enforce:

ENGAGE – officers will initially encourage voluntary compliance.

EXPLAIN – officers will stress the risks to public health. Educate people about the risks and the wider social factors.

ENCOURAGE – officers will emphasize the benefits of social distancing, face masking, staying at home, and how this saves lives and reduce the risk for more vulnerable people in society.

ENFORCE – officers will direct individuals or enforce compliance.