The indiscipline must stop
Indiscipline is taking a toll on the conduct of public behaviour in the country to the extent that it has become the middle name of some people.
On the roads, in the offices, in the communities and indeed every public place, deviant behaviour is a common spectacle.
Even those who are supposed to know better are caught in this web. They include some personnel of the security agencies, politicians, low and top public servants, drivers, some men of God and members of the public who have decided not to respect any regulation in society.
Our bad behaviour is very common in almost every public office that offers a service. Go to the offices of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the ‘goro’ boys have taken over.
It is also not easy to acquire birth certificates in the country; acquisition of land documents is also a nightmare so is the registration of businesses and admission to senior high schools and tertiary institutions in the country.
No public servant offers any service for which he or she is paid for free. If we can find one, then it is the exception rather than the norm.
It is a pity that as a country, we are cutting our nose to spite our face and at the end of the day, we collectively make no progress.
The latest happenings at Donkorkrom have exposed the growing impunity in our society. First, it was the robbery attack on a bullion van, spearheaded by two policemen.
One was even alleged to be present at the Ghana Commercial Bank at Donkorkrom when the trip of the bullion van was discussed.
When news of the involvement of the policemen broke, some people threw their hands in despair and exclaimed: ‘Who watches over the watchman?’
As if that was not all, the residents of Donkorkrom decided to seek redress for the failure of the police to deal with the spate of robberies in the Afram Plains and the police, quite naturally, responded with equal force to maintain law and order.
For some time now, sections of society have been questioning the mode of recruitment into our security services although just a few security personnel have been caught for their alleged involvement in criminal activities. All the same, reports of the involvement of some security personnel in robbery cases have become a matter of concern.
While the Daily Graphic calls on the law enforcement agencies to step up efforts to maintain law and order, it is important for the security agencies to also review their recruitment procedures.
Reports of a so-called protocol list, when it comes to recruitment into the security agencies and other parastatals, must also be looked at again.
These privileges are always subject to abuse and that is why they must not be allowed to become part of the recruitment process.
We believe that the best way to ensure fairness in our society and build a more efficient and honest society is to open up opportunities to all so that those who qualify can then serve the people with integrity.
If nothing is done about the high incidence of indiscipline in all spheres of our society, the rule of law will be under threat and when some of the people decide to adopt self-help to seek redress, we may return to the jungle where might is right.
When that happens then the stability, peace and development of the country will be compromised. God forbid but that depends on behavioural change.
