Police explain decision to suspend motor checks

The Ghana Police Service has offered explanations on why it has decided halt motor checks across the country.

Director of Public Affairs of the Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, explained to the media this morning, following groundswell criticism that, the unrelenting traffic jam on Ghana’s roads needs attention, hence the directive to shift focus to other operations of the police.

“All attention is going to be concentrated on managing traffic which has become a source of concern in our communities just to make sure that we create a more congenial atmosphere for travellers and commuters in our cities and our towns,” he expatiated yesterday.

A wireless message from the top hierarchy of the police in Accra Tuesday said “all motor checks in the country [are to be] suspended with immediate effect.”

It said personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service are to be "used only for traffic management duties”.

Per the order, police will not check documentation, road worthiness, and allied requirements of motorists. The directive has, however, been criticised as unsound.

Founding President of the think tank, IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, says the order against checks for motor traffic offences is an absurd form of policing.

Mr Cudjoe thinks IGP John Kudalor’s directed smacks of lawlessness.

Supt Cephas Arthur, however, said there is a need to focus on the clampdown on arms proliferations and drugs, insisting the order is a routine strategy to improve operational efficiency, saying “When the need arises that we restore that aspect of police operations we shall restore it”.