Accra: The Police Administration has dismissed allegations of paper leakage, bribery, and irregularities in the recent Police Competitive Promotional Examination (PCPE) conducted for Chief Inspectors seeking admission into the Police Academy.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Police Administration urged any candidate who participated in the examination and had concerns or grievances to use the appropriate laid down procedures to seek redress instead of resorting to the media. Responding to allegations of improprieties published by sections of the media last week, a statement issued by the Inspector-General of Police's (IGP's) Secretariat on Monday described the claims as unfounded and unwarranted.
The statement asserted that the allegations were false, misleading, and intended to undermine the credibility of what it described as one of the most transparent and professionally organized promotional examinations in the history of the Ghana Police Service. It emphasized that no examination papers were leaked to any officer, and no officer paid money to secure promotion or placement into the Police Academy.
The statement further dismissed claims that some officers allegedly paid between GHS70,000 and GHS100,000 to secure promotion, stressing that such allegations were unsupported by evidence. The examination process was conducted under strict supervision, in collaboration with the University of Cape Coast (UCC), the external body that has overseen the PCPE over the years, to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Stringent security measures were implemented before, during, and after the examinations to prevent any form of malpractice. The Police Administration challenged any candidate or police officer with evidence of bribery or impropriety connected to the examinations to formally submit such evidence for investigation and appropriate action.
Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Inspector-General of Police, operated an open-door policy and encouraged any dissatisfied candidate to use the appropriate channels to request a review of their results. The statement emphasized that running to the media and peddling falsehoods would not resolve the matter and urged the use of the appropriate communication channels within the Service.
The Police Administration stated that all candidates who took part in the examinations were assessed solely on merit, competence, and performance. The results reflected the fairness of the process, as successful candidates from various commands and units across the country passed through hard work and adequate preparation.
The statement acknowledged the high stakes due to the large number of candidates who sat for the examinations, asserting that due process had been followed from the beginning and would not be compromised. It disclosed that a significant number of officers attained the required pass mark based on merit.
Additionally, following a special intervention and amnesty granted by President John Dramani Mahama, approximately 300 officers who obtained 50 percent were also considered to promote fairness, motivation, and career progression within the Service. The decisions were taken in good faith and in the interest of the welfare and morale of officers of the Ghana Police Service.
While acknowledging the watchdog role of the media, the Police Administration expressed disappointment with some for publishing 'falsehoods without first seeking the response of the Service.' It warned that such publications had the tendency to create unnecessary tension and unfairly tarnish the image of hardworking officers and the Police Administration.