90% Policemen Are Alcoholics

It may sound bizarre, but that is the reality. Ninety percent of Ghana Police Service personnel are suffering from alcoholic related diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular and heart diseases among others.

The sordid development has reportedly affected the moral and operations of the Service.

The Western Regional Medical Officer of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), ASP Edwin Atampiah, disclosed this when the Police Director of Operations, DCOP John Kudalor, paid a familiarization visit to the region recently.

The Police Medical Officer noted that hands of those suffering from some of these diseases shake rapidly anytime they hold a gun.

According to him, as a result of this discovery, the police administration had now made it a policy to conduct medical checks before personnel are allowed to go on peace-keeping duties outside the country.

Kudalor said the police had constituted a board to deal with the problem and that any police officer caught indulging in alcoholism would be interdicted.

The Regional Commander DCOP Ninson warned police officers who are on retirement to vacate their bungalows to give room for others to occupy.

He however pointed out that the only ‘enemy’ confronting the Police Service was carnage on the roads and armed robbery.