The Inspector General of Police, Mr. David Asante-Apeatu has expressed the commitment of the Ghana Police Service to partner with the Department of Forensic Sciences at the University of Cape Coast. He made this observation when a delegation from the University led by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. George K.T. Oduro, paid a courtesy call on him at the Ghana Police Headquarters, Accra.Dr. Richmond Afoakwah, Head of Forensic Sciences Department and Dan Osei Mensah Bonsu, an Assistant Lecturer in the Department accompanied the Pro Vice-Chancellor. The visit was necessitated by the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between UCC and India’s Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU). As part of this agreement, both institutions will facilitate training of law enforcement officers, judges, lawyers, and journalists, among others in areas critical to enhancing professional development in their areas of endeavour. Being the frontiers of crime prevention and combat, Prof. Oduro indicated that “it was incumbent on UCC to collaborate with the Ghana Police to train their officers” which he envisaged will improve the discharge of justice in the country. The IGP commended the Department of Forensic Sciences for having the vision to collaborate with the Police service. He emphasised that the Ghana Police Service was determined to revamp the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to improve its capacity to prevent and combat crime. Dr. Richmond Afoakwah, on his part, reiterated plans of UCC and GFSU to establish and Institute of Forensic Sciences at UCC. When completed, this Centre of Excellence would be dedicated for training in Forensics and Allied Sciences and will be the first of its kind in the sub region. He also informed the IGP of the up-coming International Conference in Forensic and Security Sciences at UCC in September, 2017, which would be attended by the Director General of GFSU, Dr. J. M. Vyas as well as other scholars in the forensic field.
