It’s becoming increasingly popular and merry making on the part of some of our Law enforcement agencies, to engage in Rambo style tactics when it comes to crowd control even without aggression or threats from protesters.
It is not fun that, the just ended commissioner short’s commission indicted some Law enforcement officers in their flagrant disregard and violation of basic norms of security and intelligence application as well as the public order ACT Law 1994 (Act 491) in their line of duties, which eventually led to major violence occurrences and nearly fatal incidences during the Ayawaso by- elections on 31st January, 2019.
A similar case of Police brutality in September 2015, led to a man losing his sight during a peaceful political protest, whom, subsequently, died unfortunately on 12th May 2019 after suffering from excruciating pains of losing his sight through Police brutality.
This antics interalia, has not only led to the state committing resources to set up committees and commissions of enquiries, but, has also dented the image and reputation of our dear republic to international observers. The lack of caution and proper discretion of functions on the part of many law enforcement officers then and now, have caused our dear Republic fortunes and irreparable damages.
It’s repugnant to see officers mandated to enforce the law, rather, commit infringes against the law. The colonial style of security unfriendliness and Rambo-style gymnastics against civilians must be eschewed and discouraged at all times and at all levels of our security and intelligence gathering and law enforcement.
The foundation of every state is built around a solid security force. The relationship between the security and civilians must be built on friendly and cordiality bases, in order to deepen trust and respect for rule of law.
The use of maximum force without recourse to arresting some Law students protesters on the 7th October 2019, was unconstitutional and an affront on article 14 clause 2 of the 1992 constitution, which clearly states the condition under which the Police could conduct an arrest with a recourse.
The use of maximum force can therefore, not be exercised under no aggression or threats as we witnessed during the peaceful protest of the Law students of Ghana on the 7th October 2019, which led to the unlawful brutality and detention of some members of the protesters.
It is therefore, appalling and retarding for students on a peaceful protest to have being brutalized and nearly maimed with live bullets among other things by the security forces on the 7th October 2019, on their quest to constitutionally petition the President of the Republic on the need for legal reforms on legal education.
Abuse and excesses exhibited by state Police and security in the discharge of their duties, led to the Arab Spring in North Africa in December 18, 2010, which led to the toppling of political administrations.
It is my hope that, the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, will streamline his outfit in order to identify the supposed goons in the security service who are seeking to gag and dent the good name of the Police administration with their negative energies.
Alas, let all and sundry join the law students of Ghana on a crusade to open Legal Education now and forever.
By Akane Adams
The writer is the National Treasurer of the PNC