Stop demeaning the Police – Vladimir Antwi-Danso chides politicians
Security Analyst and Dean of Academic Affairs at the Ghana Armed Forces Command Staff College has hit out at politicians in the country for what he describes as the denigration of the Police Service.
Read full articleDr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso indicated that actions of politicians demean personnel of the security apparatus when they refuse to adhere to laws and expect to be regarded as being above the law.
He also described how the politicians order front the Police to carry out activities against their opponents, sometimes not sanctioned by the appropriate authorities.
The Security analyst recalled an incident in 2009 where President Akufo-Addo, then in opposition had his car seized by persons fronting the Police without authorization; a situation which culminated in the reversal and apology rendered by the late Prof. Mills then the first gentleman of the land.
He also questioned the standards of Politicians who are expected to make laws but tend to ‘bully’ the Police when they are found culpable.
“Politicians demean the Police. They use the Police the way they want. I remember a deputy minister who was overspeeding and eating kenkey on the Cape Coast road who was arrested by a bold police officer who didn’t know he was even a deputy. And then he started boasting that he was a minister and he said “and so what” and the Police officer was right. But the Policeman was rather rusticated” he narrated
“… I remember where after elections, a civilian commandeered some Police to go and arrest some cars. Unfortunately for them one of the cars they picked was Nana Akufo-Addo’s car, then in opposition. It became a scandal and the late President had to apologise. So politicians themselves have created the impression that we don’t have to respect the police. These things don’t bode well for respect to the police.” He added.
He charged them to equally be humble when they are accosted by personnel of the Police Service.
Dr. Antwi-Danso was commenting on the decline of the relationship between the public and Police service resulting in the assault and abuse of personnel within the service.
About five Police officers have been killed by civilians in the past month resulting in the public outrage and criticism from stakeholders.
