The Department of Forensic Sciences with sponsorship from the Skilled Development Fund (SDF) has organised a three-week training course on Crime Scene Management.
The training which was held in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service at the Detective Training Academy (DTA) in Accra, brought together 60 personnel drawn from the CID, Military Police and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Prospect of UCC and CID Collaboration
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Dery, commended UCC for introducing this innovative programme to train security professionals in the country. He noted that the collaboration between the CID and UCC would go a long way to train investigators and also empower other personnel in other security agencies. “This collaboration emphasises the point that security is a shared responsibility. We have a university that has worked out an innovative programme that is relevant to the CID empowerment and to ensure that Ghana is a secured country” he indicated.
Mr. Dery said the government was encouraged and would give the necessary support to the collaboration as well as equip security personnel to carry out their mandate of preventing crime, protecting lives and properties. He congratulated participants and urged them to carry out their duty in a professional manner to nip crime in the bud.
UCC will Sharpen the Skills of Security Personnel
Delivering his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ghartey Ampiah, said he was delighted that the University was partnering the CID to sharpen the skills of security personnel to enhance their work as law enforcement agencies in the country. He noted that UCC constantly seeks alternative ways to provide innovative programmes to respond to the developmental needs of our country. “It is for this reason that we have diversified our initial mandate as a University” he stressed.
Prof Ampiah noted that there had been remarkable changes in the world with the emergence of new technologies resulting in a tremendous increase in civilisation and globalisation. He, however, pointed out that the development had led to an increase in the crime rate. “Criminal activities have not only increased, but they have also become sophisticated, organised and networked” he observed. He further noted that the nature and scope of modern crimes, together with the high impact of terrorist activities in everyday life, have created a strong and urgent need to dedicate resources and initiatives to prevent the new breed and sophisticated crimes.
Security Agencies Require Expertise in Forensic Science
Considering these worrying trends, Prof. Ampiah said crime prevention and combat agencies like the Police Service required expertise in Forensic Science to effectively conduct their duties. He added that it was for this reason that UCC in 2015 established the Department of Forensic Sciences and mandated it to train forensic experts for the Security Services to help the justice system. He noted that UCC’s commitment to increase professionalism among the security agencies would not end with short training programmes adding that “We have developed a B.Sc. curriculum in Police Science which is envisaged to commence in 2020/2021 academic year”. He thanked the Inspector General of Police for nominating five officers to support teaching on the programme to train a critical mass of persons from which all security agencies including the Police and Military could recruit personnel.
The Vice-Chancellor thanked the Skills Development Fund (SDF) for providing funds to develop the curriculum for the Crime Scene Management Course. He indicated that the Department of Forensic Sciences was assisting the CID to develop a proposal to seek funding from SDF to train about 500 personnel of the CID.
Thematic Areas for the Training Course
On her part, the Director General of the CID, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, explained that participants were taken through “Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation, Photography, Crime Scene Sketching, Evidence Collection, Impression Evidence, Fingerprint Processing and Simulation and Report Writing. She indicated that seasoned resource persons who facilitated the training programme by engaging participants through practical sessions by using videos as well as animations.
The Director General of CID was confident that participants had grasped the lessons and also have the nitty-gritty of crime scene management at their fingertips. She entreated participants to put the knowledge, skills and competencies acquired through the programme to use as they go their various posts.
A simulation of crime scene management was performed by participants as part of the programme.
Present at the function was the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Oppong-Boanuh; representative of SDF, Military Police, EOCO and other security agencies, Dean of the School of Biological Science, Prof. Justice Kwabena Sarfo, Head Department of Forensic Sciences, Dr. Richmond Affoakwa and some lecturers and students of the Department.