The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Alhassan has warned personnel in the Ghana Police Service that his leadership will boldly confront and eradicate the actions which have over the years brought the Service into disrepute.
“The only way forward is to boldly confront and eliminate all image tarnishing vices and their associated perpetrators in the service,” he stated
He acknowledged that some of its personnel have been engaging in ‘shameful’ and ‘disgraceful’ acts which is bringing about public disaffection towards the service.
This according to the IGP, prompted the administration to do a self assessment to rid the Service of the unscrupulous personnel.
Addressing service men and the media at the launch the reaffirmation campaign of the Service, Mr. Alhassan stated this his administration over the past year has been “working hard to address some of the complaints from civil society groups, the media, the public and other agencies.”
The self assessment he said revealed some root causes including; the excessive use of force by personnel, abuse of rights of suspects, illegal or over detention of suspects, wrongful arrests and detentions, poor management of detained persons among others.
Some unethical conducts were also established during the self assessment and it consisted of extortion of money on the roads by personnel, demanding money before granting bails, poor investigations and prosecution of cases, meddling in civil cases, undertaking of unlawful duties and malicious prosecutions.
The IGP admitted some administration weaknesses hamper the efficiency and effective performance of personnel and therefore served notice there will be a “significant shift in the implementation of the basic standards and practices reflective of a progressive, accountable and forward thinking law enforcement agency.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana