By Isaac Ato MENSAH
Accra \u2013 2 September, 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The directive by Ambrose Dery, Ghana’s interior minister, that traffic police should carry arms is dangerous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s only value is to boost police morale.
But it could also easily be the beginning of many more gun battles in an indisciplined nation with millions of unlicensed light weapons and porous borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet again, our underachieving politicians have resorted to knee-jerk reactions aided by woefully ill-prepared special assistants who cannot dare disagree with their bosses on the basis of facts, evidence and reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe police will be provided with bulletproof equipment, vests and helmets to enable the police to exercise their right to self-defence effectively. So, the directive is that from now we would make sure that our police on traffic duties are armed,” said Ambrose Derry, according to a Citinewsroom story republished on modernghana.com on 30 August, 2019.
“Not only should they defend themselves but they must be equipped to deal with violent crimes when it comes their way. The IGP has been ordered now and I know he is going to do a good job to make sure that what happened to the police officers do not happen to other police who are on traffic duty\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The seven persons from Asawase who were killed by police in 2018 readily come to mind. Sheikh Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, – a former academic and Minister for Inner City Development and Zongo Affairs, was sent to present compensatory cheques to their families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The report on the shooting has to date not been made public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does it show good governance or respect? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We recall another police shooting of innocent civilians in the Accra New Town-Abavana Junction area. The police had been misinformed that the victims were armed robbers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was also the Dansoman police killing of innocent civilians. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And let no one attempt a pathetic and misguided argument here about a perceived support for violence in any form against our police. No, we condemn that unreservedly and are not interested in demonstrating any equivalence whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our only interest is looking at the pros and cons of the minister\u2019s directive.
Other problems include of course, the cost of training and monitoring the armed officers; the cost of equipment; and the risk of escalating violence from armed miscreants as has happened in the USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Dery on account of the precipitate nature of his directive must respectfully, answer the following few direct and related questions – and there are many more:
Where is the police report on the Asawase murders?
Has there been an independent investigation into the murder of the two policemen killed in Kasoa last week?
Are the bullets that were shot at the Kasoa police from licensed or unlicensed weapons?
Is he aware that the war on terrorism, money laundering and reducing the proliferation of light weapons is fought mainly with the gathering of high quality intelligence?
Are the Police Service Council and the National Security Council also thinking like him or do they have objections?
Is he aware that the so-called porous borders are part of the remit of his ministry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the interim, what proposals does the Minister have in response to the other menaces such as acid and tramadol – both of which are currently freely available?
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Obviously, what we need is a clearly thought out strategy to combat the increasing levels of violence and security lapses in our country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We need facts, evidence and reason; not noise from party hacks or half baked analysts and knee jerk reactions from high handed officials with an eye on their political fortunes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can we not even once calmly and intelligently deliberate comprehensively and work our way promptly and expeditiously through a problem? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It appears that our default position is to make infinitely worse, every problem that we are confronted with.
What a country!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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