GHANA: Control the Barbaric actions within the police service

Some personnel of the Ghana Police Service seem to be running amok in recent memory. It is unthinkable that a country currently under the leadership of a Human Rights lawyer, in the person of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, should have her citizens’ human rights trampled upon by the police with impunity.

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A video circulating on Social Media shows Ghana Police Lance Corporal, Godzi Frederick Amanor, No. 50260 assaulting a woman at the Midland Savings and Loans Limited. It is heartening to note that, the police administration has acted quickly to have the officer suspended and placed in police custody pending investigations.

The video was not the first showing brutality by some members of the Ghana police and, unless the problem within the service was addressed, it may not be the last.

According to the Police Administration, investigation has also commenced into the conduct of officials of the Midland Savings and Loans Limited, where the incident happened and all persons who are implicated would face the full rigours of the law.

The brutality meted out by some police personnel on the citizens of Ghana, whose tax contributions are used to sustain the police institution, should be addressed. It appears the service has been infiltrated by criminal elements who parade as police officers. They should be weeded out of the Police Service before they continue to tarnish the image of the service.

Or, is it that some members of the Ghana Police Service have decided to tarnish the image and hard-won reputation of the President as a Human Rights lawyer. For, the two things don’t add up – a Human Rights lawyer running the country as President and some officers of the country’s Police Service trampling upon the Human Rights of the citizens of the country.

Mr David Asante-Appeatu, Ghana’s Inspector General of Police

When President Akufo-Addo appointed Mr David Asante-Appeatu as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), he said he had every confidence in the ability of Mr Asante-Appeatu to deliver a professional police service that would be accountable to the State and the people of Ghana. Unfortunately, the very opposite is what we are currently seeing.

President Akufo-Addo said the resolve of his administration was to ensure that the country had a Police Service that was professional and owed its allegiance to the people of Ghana rather than a political administration.

The Inspector General of Police should also take urgent steps to have the reported kiling of seven young men in Kumasi recently fully investigated by an independent body to ascertain the truth. Law-abiding citizens’ safety and well-being should not be taken for granted under the guise of combating armed robbers.

Consequently, the ball is now in the IGP’s court to cleanse the Police Service of bad nuts. The people of Ghana deserve a better service from the police.