The Commander of the Motor Traffic Transport Unit (MTTU), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Daniel Avorgah, has stated that lack of supervision and control of junior personnel in the Ghana Police Service is fast undermining the integrity of the Service. ACP Avorgah explained that senior officers in the Service have failed to properly supervise the unprofessional attitude of the junior officers, which has led to the abuse of the law. Speaking at an interactive meeting with personnel of the Unit and commercial drivers in Tema last Thursday, ACP Avorgah said the senior officers have not been able to stamp their authority on the junior ones to ensure that they dress professionally. As a result, he disclosed that the dressing of some of the junior officers who are supposed to present satisfactory physical appearances as police officers, leaves much to be desired. The meeting was to sensitise police officers to appreciate the changing trends in law and enforcement, and how best to discharge their duties within the confines of our democratic dispensation. The MTTU boss stated that the meeting which was called at the instance of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), was to educate the MTTU personnel and further remind them of their roles in the police service. He noted that their level of professionalism as police personnel was fast dwindling, judging from the kind of complaints levelled against them by members of the public, and went further to remind them of their roles as law enforcers. ACP Avorgah described as unprofessional the situation where personnel of the MTTU allowed themselves to be carried away by their emotions any time they have problems with some drivers in the discharge of their duties. The MTTU boss continued that there was the need for them to set up structures in order to develop their professional skills and competence, so as to win the confidence of the commercial drivers who they work with. In a separate meeting with the commercial drivers, the MTTU boss advised them to develop a decent communication with the police who are their friends. "You must maintain a calm and firm posture in your dealings with the public in general and drivers in particular, because you are the embodiment of the law in this country”, he stated. He revealed that as personnel of the Unit, which is an independent operational one, there was the need for them to respond promptly to any call at any given point in time, in order to prove to the general public that they are up to the task. Mr. Avorgah, however, cautioned that they must not abandon their duties and take interest in arresting drivers who do not even know the offences for which they have been arrested and ensure that they register all cases in the entry books. He also cautioned the MTTU personnel to desist from collecting or accepting bribes in the discharge of their responsibilities. The MTTU boss revealed that the Unit just like any other department in the country do not have the numerical staff strength to enable them deliver well, saying the current staff strength of the Unit is 1,648. Explaining further, he noted that the Unit needs 800 personnel to man posts on daily a basis, nonetheless, due to lack of accommodation, only 250 personnel are readily available to carry out the job daily. The Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP John Kudalor, commended the MTTU for a good job done and advised them to consider their profession as a calling, since it needs a lot of sacrifices which sometimes are not appreciated by the public. He noted that since society cannot progress without the police service, it was incumbent on them to give out their best to fulfill their official obligations. Present at the meeting were Superintendent Campbell, Assistant MTTU boss and Madam Alice Gyamfi, Tema Regional MTTU Commander. Source: The Chronicle on Saturday