Reconsider decision to withdraw police from Afram Plains
The mayhem visited on the police at Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains by protesters last Wednesday is regrettable, to say the least.
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The mandate of the police is to protect life and property, so if citizens visit mayhem on those who uphold the law and destroy property meant for their own protection, that must be a worrying development.
No individual or group of persons must take the law into their own hands, even if they suspect foul play by the police in the discharge of their duties.
That is why we urge the other security services to team up with the Ghana Police Service to identify those behind the dastardly act that resulted in the destruction of police property running into millions of Ghana cedis.
Security persons, by the nature of their work, are not expected to ‘run away’ but develop better strategies to contain grave situations and we find the total withdrawal announced by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) following the Afram Plains disturbances not to be in tandem with that rule.
To the Daily Graphic, the action taken by the Police Administration rather exposes the citizens of Donkorkrom and surrounding communities in the Afram Plains to more danger and unrest and also offers the right atmosphere for the perpetuation of more unrest in the area.
Are we saying that anytime any group of persons in a community decide to go on a destruction spree we will withdraw the police from the area? What precedent are we setting with the withdrawal of policemen from the Afram Plains as if to punish everyone living in the plains?
Did everyone living in Afram Plains join in the rampage? Are the citizens there, especially the law-abiding ones, not also entitled to the services of the police?
We cannot dismiss outright the claims of complicity alleged by residents of Donkorkrom who went on the wild demonstration that saw the burning down of police posts and vehicles in the area.
That is why we urge the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to conduct thorough investigations into the matter and make its findings public.
There should not be any attempt from any quarter to shield anyone found to have aided the two cops who were involved in the bullion van robbery to escape, despite the fact that they have been re-arrested.
The police must listen to the plea of the chiefs of Maame Krobo and Donkorkrom, Nana Ohene Agyekum and Nana Akuamoah Boateng, respectively, and their people to rescind the decision to withdraw their personnel.
Meanwhile, it would not be out of place for the chiefs to render an unqualified apology to the police. They must further liaise with the district assembly and community members to build new police posts where the police will be stationed when they come back.
The Daily Graphic believes that when people who destroy state property in their fit of anger are made to pay for the destruction, it will serve as a deterrent to others with like minds, who then would be minded to use the appropriate channels when they are aggrieved or have some suspicions.
We urge the Police Administration to rescind its hasty decision to withdraw its men from the area. Instead, it should tighten any loose ends that could have contributed to the rampaging youth having their own way and attacking the police.
We need the police to provide security at all times for every citizen, especially because everyone has a right to protection by the police who are paid and equipped with our taxes.