Police will not shield personnel for wrongdoing — IGP
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr John Kudalor, on Monday assured the people of Donkorkrom that the Police Administration would not shield any police personnel of wrongdoing.
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He admitted that as a human institution, the Police Administration could not vouch for all of its personnel, explaining: “Like any other institution, there are criminals who come to the police with their own aim and purpose to get richer without working.”
“But thank God we are getting them one by one. In the police, they can run but they can’t hide. We shall get them,” he further assured and appealed to the people to exercise restraint and be law abiding.
Assessment tour
Mr Kudalor was addressing a meeting of the police personnel, chiefs and religious leaders in Donkorkrom in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District in the Eastern Region.
The IGP was in Donkorkrom to assess the extent of damage caused as a result of the fracas between the police officials in the area and the people of Donkorkrom, which resulted in the burning of some police buildings, vandalisation of some police offices, vehicles and a fire tender.
Mr Kudalor, who was accompanied by a high-powered delegation from the headquarters and the Eastern Regional Police Command, was conducted round the affected areas by the District Police Commander, Superintendent Thomas Ababio.
The IGP gave an assurance that a thorough investigation was underway and the visit to Donkorkrom, Tease and Maame Krobo would enable the administration to gather further information to enable it to complete its investigations.
Reward
Mr Kudalor said it was not right for the people to take the law into their own hands, explaining that there were laid-down procedures that needed to be followed, adding that most of the police officers who were attacked by the civilians were innocent.
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He, therefore, condemned the acts of vandalism meted out to the police and said it was unacceptable for them to have done that.
The IGP announced that plans were far advanced to upgrade the Donkorkrom Police Station to a divisional status and said it was sad that police property was destroyed and vandalised.
Earlier, before the inspection, Mr Kudalor commended the police personnel in the area for the high level of professionalism in ensuring that property and lives were protected.
He promised a reward for those police personnel who arrested the criminals, adding that at the appropriate time, the award would be made known and those personnel would be honoured.
Purge the police
The Bishop of the Donkorkrom Vicariate, Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, urged the police administration to purge the district police in the area of perception of criminality.
He said the arrest of the two policemen and a civilian had fuelled that perception and that might explain the reaction of the citizens, advising the police command to step up educational programmes using the local radio station where they could always explain happenings to the citizenry.
Most Rev. Kumordji conceded that there were good and honest police personnel in the district and, therefore, urged the Police Administration to purge the district of the undesirable ones who were tarnishing the image of the service
The bishop also appealed to the police administration to post marine police to the area since majority of the people in the area were living in the islands and criminal activities could not be dealt with by the regular police, to help ensure the maintenance of law and order.
The Atakorahene of Donkorkrom, Nana Akuamoah Boateng, said the police and people in the area had lived peacefully together all this while and appealed to the police administration to thoroughly investigate the recent robbery cases that had bedevilled the area culminating in the shooting of the driver of the bullion van by the two policemen.
The Donkorkrom Chief Imam, Alhaji Ousmanu Fuseini, called for respect, love and understanding between the police personnel and the citizenry for peaceful coexistence.
Nana Boateng later presented a petition to the IGP on behalf of the chiefs and people of the area.
Writer’s Email: severious.dery@graphic.com.gh