Kudos To Ghana Police

THIS YEAR has not been all that rosy for the Ghana Police Service. The Service itself was embroiled in many ignominious issues which could destroy their image and that of the country.

Though what befell the Police Service was not an official act from the High Command, some misfits in the Service actually soiled the reputation of the institution because of their desires for ill-gotten gains.

But of late, the Service is cleaning its 'Aegean Stables' with the Sword of Damocles which was hanging over its head gradually moving away as it portrays its good side to the public.

Just some few months ago, armed robberies and road accidents were the order of the day. But with certain mechanism that has been put in place by the High Command, these social vices are seriously being curtailed to the admiration of all and sundry while notorious criminals are being nabbed to face the law.

The work of the Service during the Yuletide is highly commendable because we experienced fewer criminal activities during the whole X'mas festivities, with only four robbery cases in Accra.

Also, the yearly X'mas road accidents, culminating in the loss of lives, were almost absent. The present campaign embarked upon by the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) of the Service in conjunction with National Road Safety Commission, to educate drivers on defensive driving, is really bearing fruit.

The recent announcement by the MTTU to take first offenders of road traffic offences for a day's training in road safety methods instead of dragging them to the motor court, is also something the Police should be proud of.

We think the police deserve a pat on the back. Notwithstanding these achievements, the Police have more ground to cover in order to become the true friends of the public.

The Police Council should gird its loins to see to the provision of the necessary logistics to meet their challenges. Likewise, the Police High Command should investigate the background of would-be recruits to enable them weed out the potential criminals who after training, may use the uniform and gun on innocent civilians, tarnishing the Service's image in the process.

We, the public, have to assist the Police to face squarely, the inhuman beings who are bent on terrorizing the citizenry. Police/Public education should be intensified for trust to be built between the two. The Police should not be seen as a brutal organisation, only there to antagonize those they are expected to protect. We should realise that the men and women in the Service are also civilians but only in uniforms.

Currently, the Police are portraying a character which is paying off and we should all be grateful for that. Let's therefore congratulate them for the good work they are doing. They have of late faced the challenges but let us not forget the big task that lies ahead of them in the form of CAN 2008 and UNCTAD Conference, all taking place in Ghana next year.

DAILY GUIDE gives to the IGP, his men and women, big kudos; and wishes them a crime-free New Year.

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