The recent police killings and other crimes in the country has provoked debate in the public space as to whether the Inspector General of Police should be removed or not. Without sounding as though we are defending the IGP, we wonder whether the current state of insecurity has anything to do with individuals or the police as an institution.
It is pathetic to wake up each day to witness the killing of a citizen by armed robbers, especially cops, who are supposed to protect lives and property. Indeed, if the person trained to protect us is the one being killed, what then becomes of the ordinary civilian, who may not have even sighted a gun, let alone handle it?
In a matter of weeks, at least, two police personnel have lost their lives whilst on duty, all in brazen ways. The James Town bullion van attack this week is fresh on our minds.
In the Tuesday edition, The Chronicle reported that at least two persons, a policeman and woman were shot dead by gunmen who attacked the bullion van.
An eyewitness told The Chronicle that few minutes before midday, the Mon-trans bullion, with registration GT 8592-W, was attacked by four persons on four motorcycles and a taxi, armed with AK47 assault rifles.
The gunmen shot dead Number 58449 General Constable Emmanuel Osei of the National SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) based at the Police Headquarters, whose AK47 Assault Rifle was taken away. The criminals also stole unspecified amounts of money from the distressed bullion van.
It is on the basis of this and others that we have already mentioned that IGP James Oppong-Boanuh has come under strong attacks by a section of the public, who have assessed circumstances surrounding the latest killings and argue that the head of the police service should leave the office.
Article 202 (2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana vests the power of control and direction of the Police Council in the IGP. On the back of this provision, the call for the removal of the IGP may be valid, but it is our contention that the focus should not be on individuals, but the police as an institution.
We take inspiration from a portion of the speech to Ghana’s Parliament in July 2009, by former United States of America President, Barack Obama, when he visited the country.
He said that: “Africa doesn’t need strong men, it needs strong institutions.”
We strongly believe in the profound statement by the first Black president of America, which received resounding applause from the lawmakers who were in the Chamber.
If the IGP, who is leading the Police Service should implement good policies and measures, but the other ranks do not support his vision, then nothing good will come out of it. On the other hand, if the other ranks work hard to support the IGP, but he fails to give good direction, the police service will fail.
For instance, in 2016, armed robbers attacked a GCB bullion van, killing the vehicle driver and injuring the policemen escorting the van to Donkorkrom, in the Afram Plains South District. Who was the IGP then? Regardless, it is our strong position that if the institution is not solely dependent on just an individual, it does not matter who the IGP may be, things will fall in place. Our reason is that, the system will force the leader, in this case the IGP, to be proactive or step aside for competent hands to take over. This is why we are insisting on building strong institution and not individuals.
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