Paul Tawiah Quaye
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6th May, 2010
A CHALLENGE TO THE IGP
To a very large extent, the Ghana Police Service has been acclaimed as one of the most disciplined institutions within the West African sub-region.
At international peace keeping operations in particular, our policemen have distinguished themselves creditably.
All these successes have been chalked against the backdrop of inadequate resources in terms of materials, logistics and manpower.
Successive governments had tried within the country’s limited resources to equip the service with some of its needs to enable it to carry out its mandated duty of protecting life and property.
It is by way of achieving optimal result from the limited resources that the Police Administration embarked on a programme of decentralisation to establish specialised units within its ranks to achieve efficiency.
However, a disturbing practice is being allowed to fester within the service whereby a few ‘bad nuts’ are taking the law into their hands to tarnish its hard won reputation.
In fact, public perception about the service is very negative and as a result their confidence is waning.
While the Inspector-General of Police is doing all in his power to build confidence and raise the image of the service, there are a few disgruntled policemen who are thwarting his effort.
Sundry cases of indiscipline continue to hit the headlines in the newspapers and the airwaves for the past four months.
For instance, in January, two policemen at Ashaiman near Tema, were placed under investigation by the Police Administration in connection with the disappearance of a truck load of 800 bags of sugar.
Then, in March, two out of four policemen were interdicted for allegedly robbing a Belgian national at Achimota of $5,000, GH˘700.00 and some personal belongings.
That same month, two policemen who attempted to steal uniforms for robbery operation, were arrested at Aflao.
Just last month, a General Constable was arrested for allegedly stealing a pump action gun belonging to the owner of a forex bureau at Amakom in Ashanti.
The latest case involving three policemen who have been put under service enquiry for leaving their duty post earlier than expected, resulting in armed attack and robbery of passengers at the Lolito Police barrier on the Keta –Dabala road in the Volta Region was published by this paper yesterday. We can go on and on.
The Times finds it abhorrent and unprofessional for officers who have sworn to protect life and property of fellow citizens to engage in such wicked and callous acts. More condemnable, is the frequent involvement of superior officers in acts detrimental to the interest of the service.
We urge the IGP not to be deterred by the wicked machinations of the few ‘bad nuts’ within the service.
Instead, he must ginger himself up and with his able lieutenants confront these acts of indiscipline with all their might and deal ruthlessly with those who are bent on tarnishing the hard won reputation of the service.
At international peace keeping operations in particular, our policemen have distinguished themselves creditably.
All these successes have been chalked against the backdrop of inadequate resources in terms of materials, logistics and manpower.
Successive governments had tried within the country’s limited resources to equip the service with some of its needs to enable it to carry out its mandated duty of protecting life and property.
It is by way of achieving optimal result from the limited resources that the Police Administration embarked on a programme of decentralisation to establish specialised units within its ranks to achieve efficiency.
However, a disturbing practice is being allowed to fester within the service whereby a few ‘bad nuts’ are taking the law into their hands to tarnish its hard won reputation.
In fact, public perception about the service is very negative and as a result their confidence is waning.
While the Inspector-General of Police is doing all in his power to build confidence and raise the image of the service, there are a few disgruntled policemen who are thwarting his effort.
Sundry cases of indiscipline continue to hit the headlines in the newspapers and the airwaves for the past four months.
For instance, in January, two policemen at Ashaiman near Tema, were placed under investigation by the Police Administration in connection with the disappearance of a truck load of 800 bags of sugar.
Then, in March, two out of four policemen were interdicted for allegedly robbing a Belgian national at Achimota of $5,000, GH˘700.00 and some personal belongings.
That same month, two policemen who attempted to steal uniforms for robbery operation, were arrested at Aflao.
Just last month, a General Constable was arrested for allegedly stealing a pump action gun belonging to the owner of a forex bureau at Amakom in Ashanti.
The latest case involving three policemen who have been put under service enquiry for leaving their duty post earlier than expected, resulting in armed attack and robbery of passengers at the Lolito Police barrier on the Keta –Dabala road in the Volta Region was published by this paper yesterday. We can go on and on.
The Times finds it abhorrent and unprofessional for officers who have sworn to protect life and property of fellow citizens to engage in such wicked and callous acts. More condemnable, is the frequent involvement of superior officers in acts detrimental to the interest of the service.
We urge the IGP not to be deterred by the wicked machinations of the few ‘bad nuts’ within the service.
Instead, he must ginger himself up and with his able lieutenants confront these acts of indiscipline with all their might and deal ruthlessly with those who are bent on tarnishing the hard won reputation of the service.
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