Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David Senanu Eklu, Director General of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police, who made the call said the media was a very important partner and tool that could enhance police public confidence and should not be ignored in modern policing.

The image of the police, he noted, was largely influenced by the information the media feeds the public with, adding that, “the media is a mirror that reflects the corporate image of our organization and how society sees us”.

He said ignoring the media would amount to undermining the confidence they need to do their work and stressed the need for a close collaboration to serve the public better.

ACP Eklu was addressing divisional, district and unit commanders of the service in the region at a day’s sensitization programme on communication and public education strategies of the service under its on-going transformation agenda.

Under the transformation agenda, police officers are expected to uphold core values of the service such as professionalism, respect for human rights, transparency, accountability as well as responsiveness and partnership.

The Director of Public Affairs who has already sensitized officers in the Volta Region, is expected to engage senior officers in all the ten regions. The goal is to promote good policing and democratic principles in line with international best practices.

ACP Eklu entreated the officers to be courteous in their engagements with the media and politely turn them down even in situations where they were not in the position to respond to their questions.

He underscored the need for district, divisional and unit commanders to work closely with the regional and national public affairs directorate to ensure accurate information are put in the public domain.

He said they may speak to issues within their jurisdiction but must be mindful of those with national dimension. ACP Eklu is also scheduled to meet chief executives and editors of media organizations in the region as part of his three-day visit to the region.