Kwabenya Police Killing

Ghanaians woke up over the week-end to the rather shocking and brutal killing of a Police Officer at the Kwabenya Police Station. This ruthless and needless death brings to eight Police Officers who have met their untimely death in their line of duty this month. This dastardly act has been condemned by all sections of society including the top brass of the Ghana Police Service. This unprovoked attack on a Police Officer, who was performing his mandated responsibility of protecting lives and property has once again provoked a heated debate in the public space about the urgent need to provide the Police Service with the much needed security accoutrements, and administrative materials for the smooth performance of their duties and responsibilities.

The attack and murder of the police Officer at the Kwabenya Police Station by six armed robbers has also brought into sharp focus the level of impunity and indiscipline which has reached unprecedented depth in the social fabric of this country. It may be recalled that not long ago, a political vigilante group called the Delta Force, went berserk and attacked a Kumasi High court, some members of their group who were standing trial accused of manhandling the Ashanti Regional Security Co-ordinator. Recently some security men deployed to flush out Fulani herdsmen and their cattle from Agogo township in the Ashanti Akyem District of the Ashanti Region were ambushed and shot at by Fulani herdsmen leading to the death of four security officers.

There have been a number of unpardonable acts in the past, where Policemen have been attacked by an unruly and angry mob or have been shot at by hardened criminals. These unpardonable acts which are usually unprovoked have not seen solutions from successive governments in terms of equipping the Police to combat crime. The ratio of Police to citizens is woefully below the United Nations recommendations. The ratio in Ghana is one Police Officer to 777 people which is far below the United Nations recommendations of 222 Police Officers to a hundred thousand citizens. This makes Ghana's situation a frightening one.

Aside this, the Police lack basic equipment, logistics and materials to carry out their operations. In a highly digitized technological world, Police intelligence should take over from the old fashioned and archaic method of Policing. Gadgets like Close Circuit Television cameras, Bullet proof vest and combat vehicles should be procured in order to confront an ever increasing and sophisticated criminals who use heavy weapons in their operations.

If these and other innovative methods are not employed then crime combat will be an exercise in futility and all efforts shall be a talkfest and not get to the core of the issues.

By Alfred Hughes, a Broadcast Journalist.

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