By: Emmanuel Oti Acheampong
The Ghana Police Service has over the years come under critical Scrutiny amidst their urge to provide security and also maintain law and order in the country. The urge often times is cut short when met with interferences and shortcomings.
As the country expects a world class performance of duties from the Ghana Police Service it is also important that they are allowed some freedom to go on their mandates duly for a peaceful environment.
In a discussion on GTV’s Breakfast Show, on November 7, 2023, the Director General of the Internal Audit Agency, Dr. Eric Oduro Osae called for the freedom of operations for the Ghana Police Service.
On the back of dealing with increasing road traffic offences in the country, Dr. Oduro mentioned that the police is always ready to put resources together and punish offenders of the law but there is always an upper authority interfering in the dissemination of such duties. This, he said, deters the Police Service from achieving a mileage in curbing road traffic offences as well as other irresponsible acts that occur on our roads.
He acknowledged strides being made by the Inspector General of the Ghana Police Service in shaping the behaviors and image of the Police Officers.
He called on the Government, Politicians and people in high positions in the country to give the police a free hand to work and allow them achieve their core mandate and safety on our roads.
He bemoaned how everything including the security apparatus of the country has been politicized.
“If we depoliticize the whole process, if we try to take officialdom out of it ,if we try to treat people on their merit and say that no one is above the law, allow the law to work as required, give the police a free hand to work, once we do that, I am sure the police will enforce the traffic rules”, he said.
He further commended the introduction of Artificial Intelligence employed by the Ghana Police on Ghana’s road system and urged that they re-introduce the naming and shaming of road traffic offenders. He called on Police Officers to ensure diligence in their line of duty.