channel247 online
The Executive Director of the West African Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE), Muqhtar Mumuni Mutaru has called for urgent reforms within the Ghana Police Service following the alleged assault of Peace FM’s Eastern Regional Correspondent, Michael Akrofi, by a police officer at Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region.
Speaking on Channel 247’s Newsroom programme with host Awuraabena Boateng, Mutaru said while the police service continues to enjoy some level of public goodwill due to recent operations and responsiveness under the current Inspector-General of Police, repeated incidents of misconduct by officers threaten to erode that trust.
According to him, confrontations between civilians and police officers often reflect a lack of trust, weak accountability mechanisms and perceived impunity among officers on the ground. He noted that such incidents, when left unresolved or poorly communicated to the public, damage the image of the service and undermine confidence in law enforcement.
Mutaru stressed that leadership of the police service must be deliberate in dealing with officers whose actions bring the institution into disrepute. He argued that investigations into police misconduct are frequently announced, but the outcomes and sanctions, if any, are rarely made public, thereby failing to serve as deterrents to others.
The security analyst also linked the issue to press freedom, describing it as worrying that journalists, who are meant to serve the public interest, continue to face assaults from security agencies mandated to protect them. He referenced past incidents, including the Latif Idris case, as reminders of how police actions can negatively affect not only the service’s image but Ghana’s democratic credentials.
To address the problem, Mutaru advocated the introduction of body-worn cameras for police officers, saying such tools would provide objective evidence during encounters between police and civilians and help prevent abuse of power.
He urged the Inspector-General of Police to demonstrate strong leadership by ensuring accountability and applying clear sanctions against wrongdoing, insisting that meaningful reforms are essential to rebuilding trust and protecting press freedom in the country.
