body-container-line-1

Fault-Line Of The Police Service

By Daily Guide
Editorial Inspector General of Police David Asante-Apeatu
MAR 23, 2017 LISTEN
Inspector General of Police David Asante-Apeatu



“We cannot achieve our vision of a world-class police service capable of delivering planned, democratic, protective and peaceful service up to the standards of international best practices without winning the confidence, trust and cooperation of the public,” so said the Inspector General of Police David Asante-Apeatu at the end of a course for selected officers at the Police Command and Staff College in Winneba in the Central Region.

The Police Chief could not have captured the concerns of Ghanaians any better. The Service has been abused by bad politicians for some time now, a situation aggravated by the conduct of equally unimpressive cops who are ready to do the bidding of such public officials even in breach of the ethics of their profession.

The Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), now enlarged with a new identity of Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), is a popular or infamous segment of the Ghana Police Service rivaled only by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

It is largely responsible for the corruption tag of the law enforcement agency and so it was relieving to learn about the IGP's plans to restructure it and rid it of the negative tag.

Whatever form the restructuring exercise is going to take, it should be such that personnel who go on motor check duties perform their roles with integrity.  That we acknowledge would be a tall order. That notwithstanding, we would insist that the first steps must be taken so the image of “your boys are on the ground;” subtle means of fleecing monies from motorists is reduced to the barest minimum.

Various measures have been adopted in the past as means of addressing this corruption baggage among personnel, all of them to no avail.

A few weeks to the last elections, the Police Administration made a startling announcement which shook everybody but the originators. Motor checks were suspended and motorists, especially commercial ones without the necessary documentations had a wonderful holiday from the nuisance of MTTU personnel.

While the reason adduced for the action was to relieve motorists of the incessant nuisance posed by bad cops, Ghanaians largely saw in it a political manouvre to give the ruling party leverage during the elections.

MTTU personnel represent the face of the Police and the need for them to be orderly and professional cannot be marginalized.

Expatriates meet them often as they drive in town and the manner they conduct themselves speaks volumes not only about the nation but the law enforcement system as a whole.

We recall the elevation of the MTTU to the status of department under a Director General and thought that was going to enhance the work of this segment of the law enforcement system. That has not been the case anyway.

There is nothing wrong with police personnel insisting that the right things are done but when the checks of documents is steeped in a passion to milk monies from motorists in the most humiliating way there is need to step in with the rod.

A few days ago, a retired Army Major reported the unseemly sight of State Protocol riders stopping commercial vehicles around the Circle overpass and collecting monies. He said that was not the first time it was happening. Considering the unusual image dent that could have on the not only the Police but the Presidency, he raised the red flag and with the numbers of the motorbikes noted, the appropriate office at the Police headquarters was alerted.

Whatever innovations are being considered in the restructuring programme, let the management consider the importance of reducing the incidence of bribe taking to the barest minimum. Anything short of this would not register the desired results.

body-container-line