The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has admonished the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo-Dampare to flush out bad officers from Ghana Police Service in a bid to enhance its image.
Speaking at the Manhyia Palace on Wednesday ( 1 December) after a courtesy call on him by the IGP, the Asantehene expressed worry about the smuggling of ammunition by recalcitrant officers to engage in criminal activities in recent times.
“The men that you are leading, most of them are good and others are also not good. Most of them are good but there are a few bad ones that have infiltrated the service and have brought the name of the police service into disrepute.”
“They use the ammunition given to them to engage in criminal activities. Ensure that this is addressed.” the Asantehene said.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu also asked the IGP to deal with the proliferation of arms in the country.
“”There has been an influx of guns in the country that have no licenses. Those are the same guns criminals use in perpetrating their crimes, and so I’m asking you, how did those guns get here? Where did they come through?.”
He added “Where did they come from? If it is someone who is making those here in Ghana, you have to find out, if someone imported them, you have to find out whether it came by sea or by land, you have to also find out whether it is someone who sells them to these criminals.”
He further charged the police officers to lend their support to the IGP to ensure he succeeds in his new role.
On his part, Dr Akuffo Dampare assured the Asantehene that efforts are underway to transform the Police Service into an enviable institution in the country.
“We are thus praying to God to help us do better than our predecessors such that the police can redeem its image,” he said.
Loretta Timah