The Ghana Police Needs Upgrade

The attack on the Kwabenya Police Station and the subsequent murder of Inspector Ashilevi has triggered important thoughts about the state of policing and security management in general across the country.

There is no denying the fact that the modernization of law enforcement in the country cannot continue to be regarded as an abstract subject. The manuals and logistics of policing must, as a matter of urgency, be revised through, among others, an enhanced budgetary allocation.

We would not be asking for too much if we ask that every police station in the country be fitted with CCTV cameras and other state-of-the-art gadget that would enhance the work of personnel.

As a matter of urgency, a delegation be sent elsewhere to observe for replication, trending best practices so law enforcement can be many steps ahead of AK 47 wielding armed robbers/land guards.

Side arms and bullet proof apparels among other regulation stuff should be considered for the Police in subsequent budgets. The number of police officers killed in the past year presents a painful statistics.

We appreciate the many demands on the national budget and how the police is competing with equally important departments for limited state resources. While we appreciate the criticalness of such departments such as health, education, defence and even agriculture, among others, we would not be wrong in pointing out that internal security management is a function which at this time demands special consideration.

In today's edition there is a story about a convict who escaped from lawful custody in a small police station near Amasaman; not because the cops on duty were not efficient but because the T & G ceiling made for easy escape.

Personnel, the shortcomings in terms of logistics notwithstanding, are doing their best to ensure safety of their compatriots – many having lost their lives in the line of duty doing so.

We are aware about how a political twist has been ascribed to the Kwabenya incident and others before it in recent times. Such spins are intended to make the government look weak and bad in the eyes of those who voted it to power. The involvement of such persons in creating the security breaches for political dividends is a reality anyway.

When incidents like the Kwabenya one happen, it would be better for us to be composed so we can consider the issues at stake and make informed suggestions for the nation's security.

The so-called security experts are waiting on the fringes, we can tell, to be called by radio stations to churn out their questionable expertise in the subject. Commentators they are and nowhere near security experts.

Shouldn't a security expert be conversant with military formations and therefore be able to differentiate between the roles of a company, platoon and a section in a battle formation? Should they not also be able to differentiate between a district and a division in a police setting?

Let them give us a break even as we plead with government to consider our suggestions for a modern law enforcement system operating best practices. Social media age is incompatible with the practices of the Gold Coast Constabulary days.