Police blamed for attacks by party vigilante groups

Security analyst Adam Bonah has raised concerns over the manner in which cases of lawlessness by vigilante groups are swept under the carpet by the Ghana Police Service.

According to Mr. Bonah, the police have failed to ensure that culprits in cases of violence are prosecuted.

His comments come on the back of an attack by NPP vigilante group, Kandahar Boys on the CEO of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. David Akolbila, demanding his removal.

The incident is one of many that have occurred in the country over the years, with these groups invading public places to demand the removal of authorities.

Speaking on the issue on TV3‘s New Day on Saturday, Adam Bonah questioned the reason behind the failure on the part of the police to bring perpetrators of these acts of violence and lawlessness to book.

“I was expecting that by this time, the police should have interrogated these people. To add salt to injury, only one person has been arrested since the issue occurred.

“…I think the police should go after all of them, but to say we have arrested just one of them, to me, we need to be asking the police a lot of questions. Is there anything we do not know with regards to getting these hoodlums and criminals arrested?” Mr. Bonah wondered.

He stated that the police end up shielding culprits because of interference from political figures.

This, he noted, acts as a catalyst for some youth and vigilante groups to continue carrying out these acts of violence.

“If you remember, these highways and locking up offices, I think on your network, Bugri Naabu mentioned that he actually asked them to undertake some of these acts, and Bugri Naabu is still walking free.

“So, if we still have all of these people walking in the system who have not been invited by the CID, neither have they been invited by the police, then one will say that these young people somehow are going to be urged on to take the law into their own hands,” Mr. Bonah suggested.

According to him, the structure of the Ghana Police Service ought to be examined, to ensure that persons appointed to man the Service are not people who kowtow to political pressure.

This he noted, “will solve 99% of the police and security issues in the country”.

He said the Ghana Police Service is one of the best forces in the world, but it is unable to work efficiently because of some of this interference from government and political parties.

“If you want to test how the police can perform, touch one of them. It is not that police officers cannot work, it is because of interference.”

He, therefore, urged political parties to desist from interfering in the work of the police, and allow them to enhance security in the country by cracking the whip on vigilante groups and other persons found breaking the law.