Police misconduct requires independent investigation - Muntaka

The Minister-designate for the Ministry of Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has proposed the establishment of an independent body to investigate police misconduct.

He made this suggestion during his vetting before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday, January 24, 2025.

Mr Muntaka criticised the current practice, where the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) handles complaints internally, arguing that it creates doubts about impartiality.

“We need an independent body that works alongside other institutions, like a police standards board, as seen in some countries,” Mr Muntaka said. “This will give citizens confidence to report misconduct without fear of intimidation and ensure fairness in investigations.”

He acknowledged that while there have been instances where police-led investigations yielded results, there are also cases where credibility was lacking, leading to wrongful compensation payments.

Mr Muntaka suggested that independent oversight should be extended to other agencies under the Ministry of Interior, including the prisons, fire service, and immigration services.

He, however, ruled out centralising these oversight bodies within the Ministry, saying it would complicate operations. Instead, he proposed equipping each institution with trained personnel to address misconduct effectively.

Touching on Ghana’s reputation as one of the most peaceful countries in West Africa, Mr Muntaka said maintaining this status would require boosting morale within the security services.

He explained that treating personnel fairly, even when they make mistakes, plays an important role in motivation.

He also said there is a need for clear strategies for agencies such as the Ghana Immigration Service and the National Fire Service, including border security, disaster prevention, and monitoring of small arms.

Addressing concerns about recruitment, Mr Muntaka dismissed the notion that unqualified individuals could be recruited into security services, describing it as harmful to their efficiency.

“Recruiting unqualified persons weakens our security agencies, and I will not support such practices,” he stated.

Mr Muntaka assured the committee that these measures if implemented, would improve accountability and maintain public trust in Ghana’s security institutions.