Re-brand the Ghana Police Service

If any institution in this country is long overdue for re-branding, it is the Ghana Police Service. Certainly, make-or-break reforms are needed to restore the image of the police service to boost public confidence in it.

Clearly, competing demands facing the police should prompt the police service to rethink how best to deliver effective policing to Ghanaians. The current government policy to recruit 2000 officers every year to gradually increase the force's strength to enable them to protect citizens  effectively is, no doubt, brilliant.

But such a strategy will be worthless if serious steps are not taken to address the challenges facing the service. The challenges are serious drawbacks to effective policing in this country.

The poor conditions of service of our police officers unquestionably reflects the poor levels of commitment and the lack of professionalism. Needless to say, the infrastructure of the Ghana Police Service is appalling and need to be upgraded. At the moment, the salaries of officers, particularly recruits, are so poor that they can  hardly motivate any patriotic Ghanaian to work efficiently.

An in-depth investigation conducted revealed that although the Police Council has made some recommendations to the government regarding the conditions of service of officers, it is yet to be seen whether they would be effective.

Undeniably, the service needs extensive programmes for the renovation of police buildings, construction of new barracks and improvement in the salary structure. These changes are obviously crucial if we want our police officers to perform to our expectations, as well as build a positive image for the service.

Seriously, a radical overhaul of the police service is necessary to meet the requirements of people, particularly crime victims in time of distress. This suggests that the refurbishment should be designed and constructed to reflect a progressive and professional approach, as well as reinforce the Police Service's values.

This important project should be carried out properly to  attract and motivate the public to volunteer useful and timely public information that are vital in combating crime in the country.

 
Much as the public understands the deplorable working conditions of the police, it is also essential for them to implement open and transparent policies to inform citizens about police actions and respond to queries about the reasons for their actions.

There should be a broad-based system of accountability in place in the service to support whatever procedures that are implemented. Whatever the situation, the country's police service should be able to address and account for their conduct, as well as pave the way for a good relationship with the public regarding policing issues.

More important, the police should be very serious about managing the reputation of the institution after the long period of shameful acts committed by some 'bad apples' in the service. What the police need to do is a regular re-organisation of its  top command to improve the service's crime combating capacity.

For instance, a dedicated Auto-Crime Unit could be created to tackle the serious car theft menace that has gained notoriety in the country. Such a unit could be made central to whatever new structure that may be implemented as it could help curb car snatching.

 
 Providing the public with  24-hour hotlines linked to such a unit could assist people willing to provide information regarding car crime to do so quickly and without fear. 

 
Enforcement of the police code of conduct is also crucial. Most officers often flout the laws, but they are hardly punished for lack of evidence. Consequently, confidential telephone lines for the public to report officers who breach the integrity and professional standards set by the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) bureau should be launched to restore public confidence in the police service. This confidential service could be properly monitored, if possible, by independent monitors to help uphold ethical standards in the service.

Obviously, this system can also enable the public to report suspected acts of corruption and unethical conduct, which form part of the police code of ethics. What's more, it can also be used to complement the PIPS's efforts at monitoring wrongdoing in the Ghana Police Service.

Currently, the public is somewhat bankrupt regarding the ways and means of  volunteering confidential information to the police in the country. Therefore, television sets or plasma screens being used at station receptions across the country should rather be used to solicit information from the public and not otherwise.

 
Moves should be initiated for such facilities to be converted into advertising tools to show video footage and key messages on crime prevention and critical breaking news for the benefit of the public instead of using them as entertainment tools at police stations where security is supposed to be provided 24/7.

 The police's financial constraints could also be dealt with if prudent measures are put in place to ensure that police resources are sent to the right areas where they are needed, when they are needed. It is time we learn to use the country's scarce resources judiciously to solve the most pressing problems.

Another way to spur progress in the police service could be to institute award schemes to motivate officers who excel. An important institution such as the police service, for example, should not wait for public opinion to push them to deliver. They can take inspiration from other organisations by instituting award schemes to motivate officers to become dedicated.

One important thing the police service must do to boost its image is to improve the appearance of the Ghana Police Headquarters by turning it into a purpose-built facility in the sub-region.

 
Uncompleted structures in the yard must be developed and furnished to give the country a modern police service with adequate facilities to enable officers to provide the best administrative service to Ghanaians. Regional and district commands could also launch their own initiatives to help combat crime and other anti-social behaviour with support from companies and the public.

Ghanaians reckon the police service needs a positive image to win their confidence and support, but this can only be effective if the government supports their programmes. For instance, police enquiry offices in the country are long overdue for renovations. It is, therefore, important that the service engages in a service-wide refurbishment programme to ensure that all enquiry offices are given face-lifts to make them easily accessible by the public. 

These reforms, if implemented, will help improve the work of the police service. That, in turn, will help restore public confidence in the police service by making them effective in policing, crime combating and the maintenance of law and order.

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior has already assured the police administration of its readiness to  support it with all the necessary logistics and infrastructural demands to spur them to deliver effective and efficient policing services for the country (see Daily Graphic August 26, 2008).

These reforms, if carried out properly, could make the police and the general public excited. The police as an institution will also gain the positive image they need to win the confidence of the public.

 
By Kwabena Agyei-Boahene