Mr. IGP, What Happened To Inspector Joseph Karikari & Co.?

One afternoon last year, the Ghana Police Service told Ghanaians that four policemen of the MTTU, led by one Inspector Joseph Karikar,i had been arrested around the Apenkwa-Achimota overhead area for allegedly collecting bribe from errant drivers plying that route.

The following day's newspapers had the photographs of the men splashed on their front pages. Not too long after that incident, the same Police Service came out to inform the public that it had once again arrested some of its personnel of the Highway Patrol team led by a woman, Inspector Asobayire, for stealing the money of an accident victim who died on the Accra-Tema Motorway.

A few months ago, DAILY GUIDE carried the interdiction of some police personnel, both officers and men, for allowing some cell inmates in Accra to possess mobile phones while in custody. In July this year, the Police Administration came out with a press release that two policemen, who were supposed to be on duty at the ECOBANK branch at the Accra Shopping Mall, had been arrested following an alleged robbery at the bank.

On Wednesday August 24, 2011, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Paul Quaye, ordered the immediate interdiction of six personnel for allegedly extorting money from Akoti Junction on the Accra-Cape Coast road. The leader of the six MTTU men was Inspector Apuyinga.

The question on the lips of many Ghanaians is, 'What has happened to all these personnel involved in various cases?'

On receiving the latest police interdiction story in the newsroom on the said day, a colleague in a very senior editorial position intoned: 'What happened to Inspector Joseph Karikari and his colleagues who were interdicted under similar circumstances last year? The IGP and his men should spare us this populist rhetoric.'

It looks as if the Police Administration has taken the Ghanaian media (and perhaps the public in general) as a very gullible group ready to lick its phlegm or swallow hook, line and sinker whatever they are told. Is it a mere public relations gimmick that the police leadership informs the public of interdicting its errant personnel but decides to keep it secret when it takes further actions concerning such personnel? Is it a mere ruse? Does any interdiction really take place at all? Why are we not told when such personnel are recalled or dismissed or even exonerated after investigations?

The last time DAILY GUIDE checked its facts, Inspector Joseph Karikari and his group had been reinstated into the service, with all their entitlements intact. Even Inspector Karikari has recently been transferred to Tafo and is yet to leave Accra.

'When this happens, then interdiction becomes something like 'susu' where one puts his money away in bits and takes it in bulk,' said a chief inspector who wants to remain unnamed.

If Ghanaians were told, through the media, of the Police Administration's intention to interdict those personnel, why were Ghanaians not told of the service's decision to reinstate them?  The point is that no one is merely and vindictively interested in the arrest and interdiction of police personnel per se. All the public is interested in is the guilt or innocence of the affected people when the need arises. And when that happens, what is the verdict of the Police Administration? Are we not entitled to know? If the leadership of the service thinks the public should not hear of the outcome of such interdictions, then perhaps it should not inform the public of arresting these 'miscreants' as said by Cephas Arthur, acting director of Police Public Affairs. If it is a purely internal affair, then it should be treated as such and kept away from the prying lenses and acidic tongues of journalists. If personnel arrested for such offences are seen as mere suspects, then the police should first investigate the case thoroughly before telling Ghanaians about it.

As members of an organization which is always the cynosure of the Ghanaian public, it is crucial that police personnel become familiar with the objectives and approaches of the press, both local and international.

Thus, it is essential that you, the police, are well-equipped to communicate with the media in order to ensure that media stories about them and their activities are responsible, accurate and informative.

Though part of this responsibility lies, of course, with the journalists that you interact with, the greater part actually lies with you- it is essential that you know how to liaise with reporters in order to ensure that your message is not misconstrued, in order to ensure that you respect the confidentiality of sensitive information and in order to ensure that your missions or operations receive the widest coverage possible. Above all, this will ensure that you are seen as credible people in uniform by the rest of society. If this happens, members of the public will even put their heads under the guillotine for you when necessary.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the Ghanaian media is robust, vibrant and widely read and heard. Isn't it needless to say that it shapes public opinion and closely informs policymaking? It has the immense power to promote or destroy public figures depending on the circumstances and how such public figures dance to the tune of the media. One small fib or slip-up on your part, and you will find that your secret is slapped onto the cover or front page of every newspaper in the country being read vociferously by all, and widely amplified by the ubiquitous electronic media. Ultimately, such a mistake can compromise your mission and jeopardize the safety of the society that you are aiming to protect by virtue of your calling.

Recognizing the powerful and influential role of the media is the first step in improving your interactions with the media. Knowing how far-reaching the media is, both locally and internationally, will ensure that you take your liaisons with the media seriously. Knowing that media coverage has the immense power to promote or jeopardize your operations and positions should ensure that you are very well prepared before coming out with any piece of information for the public.

Finally, in the course of sharing information, don't exaggerate or lie. Reporters can sense misinformation and will expose you to the public. If you do not know the answer to a question, tell reporters that you will find the correct information and get back to them after the interview; that is more honourable than lying. It also shows that you are on top of issues. If you make a mistake while sharing some information, admit it. Lying or trying to cover up could make the mistake seem graver than it is as there will still be lingering doubts on people's minds and they will continue posing questions such as 'Mr. IGP, What happened to Inspector Joseph Karikari and Co.?'

By Sylvanus Nana Kumi