Don’t use our officers as errand boys – Police warn flagbearers

The Ghana Police Service is cautioning political party flagbearers and their running mates not to engage police officers assigned to protect them during this election year for domestic activities.

According to the police, engaging the officers in duties outside their mandate of protecting the named persons, amount to an abuse, which they will not countenance.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), last month assured all flagbearers that the service will provide four police officers for each presidential candidate and two for their running mates before and during the electioneering period in November.

Speaking during a meeting between the Ghana Police Service and political parties on Tuesday, the Director of Operations for the police service, Chief Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, noted that the services of the officers will be withdrawn if the flagbearers and their running mates do not comply with the agreed modalities.

“It will not be nice for us to see any presidential candidate use the policeman as if he is a servant in the house or go to the mall and then the policeman will be carrying the basket and the politician will be dropping stuffs in it. Those are issues that we would want to state unequivocally that we will withdraw our people as soon as we have this information and we have evidence to that effect.”

He emphasized that, their personnel assigned to politicians are to “cover only political activities.”

“Personal activities and other things should not be part of his [Police officer’s] business. And they must be provided with decent meals so far as they stay with you. When you travel out of the region, it is your responsibility to provide them with accommodation and meals and they will be subject to police rules and regulations even as they are with you and we are observing them very well. Remember that they are always on camera and therefore when they are captured in uncompromising situations and other things and we will withdraw them, we will have evidence to that effect,” Superintendent Agordzo added.

Some Police officers ‘practically worship’ public officers

Police officers attached to municipal and district chief executives, Ministers of state and other public officers, are often used outside their mandate which is mainly to provide security.

Some are sent on errands and offer other domestic chores to these public officers.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin