Trending GH: Commercial drivers skeptical about IGP's new directive

The Inspector-General of Police, in a new directive, has announced a task force would be instituted to conduct periodic checks on the road to stop unprofessional conduct and extortion by some policemen who have been assigned on traffic duties, highway patrols, and barrier duties.

The statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs Department, ACP David Eklu on October 15, 2019, was in response to numerous complaints from the general public about the unprofessional conduct of some police officers.

Reacting to the new directive, some commercial drivers at the 37 Military Lorry Station, have expressed their distrust in the effective implementation of the Inspector General of Police’s new directives.

According to the drivers who shared their views on Ghanaweb's Trending GH, they do not believe the directive would work.

“There were so many policies government brings out, but they fizzle out because they don’t implement them. The policemen harass drivers all the time, it happens, but when drivers complain to even their superiors, the drivers become victims. So what is the guarantee that this time around, the government is going to implement this thing? It is a good directive though, but I can assure you boldly it is something that will fizzle out as early as possible,” one driver said.

Another driver shared his concern about the fact the complaints will be received by the police service, and not any neutral body or organization.

“If only the directive will work, then to me, it is good. But how do you report the police to the police? They might not discipline the policemen the way they ought to be disciplined for their misconduct. So to me, it is good if only it will work,” he stated.

Others could not let the opportunity to inform the masses about police injustice on the roads pass.

“The policemen are thieves, they use their uniform to extort money from us. We will talk about it because when the country develops, it’s for all of us,” one driver said.