We are appalled, even saddened that Ghana in 2019 in a rule of law driven society would witness barbarism from so-called professional police officers as experienced by journalists from The Ghanaian Times last week.
The unenviable brutality, uncouthness meted out to journalists was a display of open hatred for the media by the officers. They did what they did because they did not want what happened to be brought to the notice of the public; unfortunately it has, in a horrendous fashion.
Whatever investigation is going to be undertaken should begin with the open display of crass indiscipline by the motor-riding cop whose conduct triggered the chain of misconducts by the regimented persons in the story: they should have known better that their conduct does not belong to a civilized police service.
Even more disturbing is the fact that one of the perpetrators of the criminality was a superior police officer, a Deputy Superintendent Of Police. Imagine such an officer commanding a district.
This should not be a business as usual module. The Inspector General Of Police (IGP) must wade into this nonsense immediately because we are not in a jungle. We won’t be satisfied with carefully crafted composition from the Public Affairs Directorate of the Police. We have too many of such lame placating interventions. We want action and now.
Such brutality, imbecility should not be happening under the watch of Mr. David Asante-Apeatu and the sooner he acts to placate incensed journalists across the country, the better would it be for media/police relations.
It is mind-boggling that this is happening at a time the Police Administration has assured Ghanaians that the training manuals are being upgraded to incorporate basic PR to foster mutual and respectful relationship between the Police and their many publics.
The IGP, when it was suggested to him recently to consider making police commanders accessible to the public because the status quo does not encourage that, was upbeat. He said that was being taken care of under the auspices of the European Union. He even said that there is an improved worldwide ranking of the Police in that regard. Now we are beginning to have doubts about this ranking. More, of course, must be done to catch up with internationally acceptable best practices in policing.
With this brutish conduct by some police officers, we should not expect the productive cooperation from members of the public when, for instance, information is needed for the apprehension of criminals or important leads are required for the unraveling of seeming intractable security conundrums.
We would not be satisfied with a mere ‘we are looking into the matter.’ We want to see concrete action taken against all the officers.
The IGP has been offered a fine opportunity to assure us sincerely that he can walk his talk when it comes to enforcing the law and for that matter discipline. If misbehaving cops can get away with crime, then the war against vigilantes could be a cosmetic exercise. We are encouraged by the intervention of the Ghana Journalists’ Association (GJA) in the matter. The swiftness calls for commendation but that should not be the end of it. The GJA President must demand answers and actions from the IGP and even the Interior Minister.
We shall revisit this subject with a view to ensuring that the perpetrators are dealt with according to law. The suspects in this matter do not belong to the transforming Police project the IGP is working on.
The President should be disappointed by this conduct of these cops having showered flowery praises on the Police during the 62nd anniversary of our independence in Tamale. We shall return.
Source: Daily Guide
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
THE IGP IS A PENSIONEER ON CONTRACT. THE DEPUTY IGP IS A PENSIONEER ON CONTRACT. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO? CHALLENGE AUTHORITY AND LOSE THEIR JOBS? NEVER!!!!! THEY MUST WORK TO SUIT THEIR MASTER'S OR LOSE THEIR JOBS.
IT SURPRISES ME THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS ONE OF THE BEST LEGAL BRAINS THIS COUNTRY HAS WITNESSED AND SAME COULD BE SAID ABOUT THE IGP AS ONE THE FINEST POLICEMEN THE COUNTRY HAS PRODUCED. IT IS THEREFORE WORRISOME THAT HAVING THESE TWO (2) GENTLEMEN AT THE HELM OF AFFAIRS, THE COUNTRY IS RATHER WITNESSING QUESTIONABLE POLICING IN THE COUNTRY. AT TIMES I HEAR SOME BIG MEN IN THE COUNTRY SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME NICE PEOPLE IN THE POLICE SERVICE. IS IT NOT BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE SUCH NICE TREATMENTS FROM THE POLICE DUE TO THEIR STATUS IN SOCIETY. ASK ANY ORDINARY PERSON ABOUT HIS/HER PERCEPTION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE POLICE AND SEE IF IT WILL COMPLEMENT THE ASSERTION BY THE BIG MEN IN SOCIETY OR JUST WALK INTO ANY POLICE STATION AND SEE TO YOURSELF WHAT GOES ON THERE. THE COMMANDERS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COOL HEADED ARE WORST CULPRITS THAN THEIR CONSTABLES. CAN WE NOT THEREFORE SAY THAT GHANA IS GRADUALLY BECOMING A FAILED STATE BECAUSE OF THE BEHAVIOUR THE POLICE SERVICE. YESTERDAY'S REVELATION IN THE "DAILY GRAPHIC" THAT NO POLICEMAN OR MILITARY PERSONNEL FOUND TO HAVE ABUSED THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF CITIZENS HAS BEEN PROSECUTED FOR SOME YEARS NOW. SIMPLY PUT, THE POLICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE CLOTHED IN STATE APPAREL ARE OVERLY PROTECTED BY THE STRUCTURES OF THE STATE. IF WE CONTINUE TO BEHAVE LIKE THE OSTRICH THAT ALL IS WELL WITH OUR POLICE SERVICE WHEN THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ARE ABUSED ON DAILY BASIS, ROAD USERS ARE MADE THE EMPTY THEIR POCKETS ESPECIALLY ON KASOA-BAWJIASE ROAD WITH IMPUNITY AMONG OTHER ABUSES, JUST TIME WILL TELL.