Body cameras recommended for Ghana Police to check misconduct

International relations expert Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso has called on the police administration to ensure that all its personnel wear body cameras while in the line of duty.

This he indicated would help in ensuring that personnel are monitored every step of the way as they go about their duties.

Dr. Antwi-Danso made this observation while speaking on TV3‘s Key Points programme on Saturday, November 24.

He noted that the use of the body cameras will prevent a police officer from engaging in acts of brutality, among other things.

“I have suggested this before, talked to ministers before this particular…I think if they wear body cameras, it will be the first check on their behavior. If they have that restraint in trying to react impulsively when such things happen, they will be exposed and they would have the individual sense of responsibility.

“So, I will strongly suggest that people, who are sent out for action, must wear body cameras.”

His call follows a recent report by a committee constituted by the government to investigate incidents leading to the killing of some seven civilians at Manso-Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region.

The seven persons were killed in July this year by an officer who alleged that the deceased were members of a robbery gang who had shot and killed another officer.

Contrary to this account by the Ghana Police Service, findings from the Committee’s report indicated that there was no information to prove that the seven deceased persons were robbers.

Dr. Antwi-Danso described the incident as unfortunate, charging police personnel to be responsible in performing their duties.

He also said although Ghana has one of the “finest” police forces on the continent, there is the need for the administration to put measures in place to make officers work more effectively.

The international relations expert urged the police administration to be more circumspect in recruiting personnel into the force to prevent such irresponsible behavior.

He noted that the police must be made to understand that any act of irresponsibility would not go unpunished.

“Personally, I strongly believe it is because we have not pushed our police to the level where they will have the patience not to pull the trigger and be able to meticulously push and find the real person.”