The Ghana Police Service in 2007 was ranked among other institutions in the Global Corruption Barometer (GCB 2007) released by Transparency International, (TI) an international anti-corruption crusading organization in Berlin, Germany, as one of the most corrupt institutions in Ghana.
Ghanaian respondents surveyed for the GCB 2007 ranked the police first with a score of 4.6 (out of a maximum score of 5 for very corrupt) as the institution that was most impacted by corruption.
On countless occasions, we have had instances where the Public Affairs Officer of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Kwasi-Fori, comes out boldly to defend the sinking image of the Ghana Police in the event of lapses.
It is disheartening to note that the Ghana Police Service for decades now has been branded as one of the top-most corrupt institutions in Ghana.
The IGP, Paul Tawiah Quaye, has on several platforms pledged his commitment and readiness to flush out all police officers who engage in corrupt practices.
This, the IGP has exhibited, through the arrest and prosecution of some police officers who engaged in armed robbery and some kind of bribery deals.
Four officials of the Accra Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service were on Wednesday arrested on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for allegedly extorting monies from motorists around the Achimota Overhead Bridge.
An amount of GH¢196 was retrieved from them when they were searched on the spot by the arresting team from the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) Bureau.
We at TODAY commend attempts made by the IGP to save the image of the police by keeping eyes on incorrigible police officers like those at the MTTU who engaged in bribery acts.
The IGP acted on a tip-off and TODAY thinks that it was a step in the right direction in an effort to flush out bad nuts from the police service.
An impression has been created in the police service which needs to be critically looked at by the IGP, if only he wants to succeed in his fight against corrupt police officials.
This negative perception is the fact that the police service is a lucrative profession since one could adopt thousands of ways to amass wealth.
The public has painted a golden picture about the police profession, when, as a matter of fact, all is not gold for our policemen and women even where to stay with their families have always been a problem.
It is also sad to point out that policemen have taken advantage of offences committed by motorists to extort monies from them.
When the media’s attention is drawn to it and it is published, the Public Affairs section of the police is always quick to defend its men that it is not true and that the mass media should be circumspect.
It is high time police officers advised themselves and refrain from some of these corrupt acts that have the potential of dragging the image of the police into the mud. And for that note we say good work Mr IGP.
