Traveling with top American documentary filmmakers and local journalists, we uncover massive abuse of power by a member of the Ghana Police highway patrol team.
Fresh investigations by the New Crusading Guide has revealed that some police officers have resorted to using highway patrol duties for their personal benefit, intimidating civilians at will, flexing their guns and threatening to beat up and kill those who question their authority.
In a series of ongoing exposes by this newspaper and its readers, we begin with the story of police officer Justice Nunekpe of the Ghana Police service. Over the course of two weeks, this police officer has been observed mounting random checks and stopping cars between Nsawam and Anyinam on the main Accra to Kumasi road. In a day, police officer Justice Nunekpe together with some colleagues park their police car at over seven points within the short stretch to intimidate, extort money or abuse drivers and road users who question their authority. Brandishing AK 47 assault rifles and dressed in helmets and heavy police gear, these officers do not just check cars, they end up assaulting some passengers.
In Ghana, police highway patrols are meant to protect civilians, check road safety and ultimately ensure the security of all Ghanaians.
In the past, the efforts of police highway patrol teams have led to the seizure of illegally acquired weapons or helped stalled crimes on our major highways. As such, there is the need for both civilians and police officers to give each other respect to achieve this positive aim of public safety and security. Yet, the behavior of Police officer Justice Nunekpe, as captured by our cameras is anything but professional.
On one ride with some top American documentary filmmakers from Accra to Kumasi, we encountered Police officer Justice Nunekpe and his colleagues a few minutes after Nsawam. As usual, he stopped the vehicle and ordered our driver to open the boot. Knowing him for his bullying tactics which we observed over the course of two weeks, the driver dutifully obeyed and opened his boot. Brandishing his AK 47 assault rifle, the officer then asked him to open about 7 bags that contained camera and filming equipment. The driver started unpacking.
Just then, the officer called another one of his colleagues who joined him and then they rushed from the boot towards one of the filmmakers inside the car who was then filming the incident on his phone’s camera. Showing his gun, the officer asked the filmmaker to hand over his camera. The filmmaker refused by saying no to the police officer. In an angry exchange of words between the two, the police officer pushed the filmmaker in his seat, while blocking the car door and holding on to his gun.
Sticking with this intimidation tactic, the officer held on to the passenger door with one hand while holding his gun with the other, leaving no room for the filmmaker to step out or turn around. This continued for long, until one of the local journalists called another police officer on phone to intervene.
“You’re lucky it’s because of my boss, otherwise you’ll be crying by now,” the police officer said to another filmmaker in the car.
Although Ghana enjoys relative peace and has been lauded by the international community and the world at large, actions such as that exhibited by this police officer go a long way to tarnish the image of the country. According to one of the American documentary filmmakers who witnessed the scene, officers like this should be checked to prevent police brutality. He cited examples of police mishandling and killing citizens in the U.S., which have led to several unrests and the black lives matter movement. “Just look at the way he was holding that gun. It can just go off on anybody and then he’ll say it’s an accident,” the filmmaker observed. “Ghanaians should make sure such things don’t happen in such a peaceful country”.
Source: The New Crusading Guide
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THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NO NEWS. THIS IS WHAT WE EXPERIENCE EVERYDAY ON OUR ROADS!!!! POLICE OFFICERS BEHAVE AS IF THEY DONT GET PAID. THEY TARGET PEOPLE DRIVING PLUSH VEHICLES,USING THE LADY OFFICERS AMONG THEM TO HARRAZE THE DRIVERS FOR COINS!!. ITS A PITY
Ghanaians are too judgemental at times We abuse our rights are citizens I also encountered this same Policeman on my way to Kumasi and he was Professional with his work Looking at the story i think the Americans resisted some part of the search thats y Dont forget that Police are also human and if u want to use the face the scratch the floor they wont understand Congrate Ghana Police
Hope the new admnistration will eradicate these unproffessional policemen from the road.Its stranged to see the harrasments innocent travellers gone through.Always collecting money just like they are not paid.Corruption every where.We need serious new IGP who knows what good service is all about.
WHY ARE YOU REPORTING THIS NOW? IS IT BECAUSE OF THE AMERICAN FILM MAKERS? WHAT A DISGRACEFUL COUNTRY.THIS FORM OF POLICE ARROGANCE HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.IT STARTED FROM RAWLINGS ERA TILL TOADY.
This is no news to me and many others. It happens all the time and everybody turns a blind eye. I refused to pay anything during my recent visits but my own family members who were traveling with me thought I was crazy to be delayed by the police who needed cash. Write me a ticket and I will show up to court. But the police don't like to issue citations either. Terrible situation.... I don't think it is going to stop anytime soon.
I have been a victim before on the mampong Ashanti highway these thugs will come in the name of highway patrol do whatever they like.
This is true, I was on my way towards Kumasi last week Sunday, I was stopped my some highway patrol unit, whiles one was searching my trunk one was searching the compartments in the car, but the one searching the trunk distracted me only for the other one to reach out & steal my money from the middle compartment. I only found out when I got to my destination, but sad. People shd be careful, these officers are ***barred word***
It does not matter who exposed this village, ***barred word*** and uneducated brute shrouded in police gab. This ***barred word*** with citizen issued rifle in hands has harassed the public for a long time and now his cup is full. This bully need to be taken off the streets and locked in a guardroom to be taught civility. They are in uniform to serve and not to intimidate. The American film maker knows his rights, most Ghanaians unfortunately have no rights period. So ***barred word*** of this ***barred word*** can go around intimidating innocent citizens with impunity.
Why top American documentary film maker? Is the top American documentary film maker done with filming the number of black lives lost i America 2016 by the cops? Curious pure bolla. Live lost & this which need more documentary? Not one soul in Ghana able to document this? You expose the Country to International stage & the same people travel with poor tax payers money overseas looking for investors to come manage the economy or invest here for you? Bulllll.