The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has expressed deep concern over what he described as a disturbing downward trend in the quality and success rate of police investigations, warning that the situation threatens public confidence and emboldens criminal activity.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the Regional Crime Officers Conference in Accra on Thursday, December 18, the IGP said reversing the decline in investigations remains a top priority of the Ghana Police Service under his leadership.
According to Mr. Yohuno, crime statistics continue to paint a worrying picture, with poor investigative outcomes undermining trust in the police and weakening the justice delivery system.
He stressed that effective investigations are not optional but form the core mandate of crime officers.
He noted that crime officers are at the forefront of the battle against crime and must take responsibility for the quality of investigations conducted under their supervision.
The IGP charged senior officers to ensure proper oversight of investigators, adding that poor performance and misconduct must be reported through the appropriate administrative channels for corrective action.
Mr. Yohuno further called for stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies and key stakeholders to enhance intelligence sharing, best practices and the effective use of limited resources to combat complex and organised crimes.
Acknowledging the evolving nature of crime, the IGP stressed the need for continuous skills development to keep pace with emerging criminal methods, particularly those driven by technology.
He admitted that high caseloads, inadequate logistics, limited forensic support and sophisticated criminal networks continue to pose serious challenges to effective investigations.
To address these challenges, he urged crime officers to prioritise internal training in critical areas such as forensic investigations, cybercrime, financial crimes and intelligence-led policing.
He said modernising investigative approaches is essential to improving outcomes and staying ahead of criminals.
The IGP expressed confidence that with collective responsibility, professionalism and renewed commitment, the Ghana Police Service can stem the tide of crime and restore public confidence in policing across the country.
