To gain understanding into what goes into police investigations in Ghana, we embarked on a fact finding mission at the National police headquarters for answers. As a matter of fact, the public appears to impose pressure on the Ghana Police Service whenever there are public interest cases.
Some of these cases come with hullabaloos along with pressure from the public, whom in a way feel it may become a ‘foolish case’ or ‘lack of evidence case’; leading to some cases coming to an abrupt end.
The ‘Cocaine-turned-Konkonte powder’, ‘Chris Brown wee-saga’, ‘Woyome-GHS51.2 million-saga’ (though prosecution has taken place), etc.; not forgetting the ongoing investigation into ‘Fennec Okyere’s murder case’ and ‘Castro, Janet Bandu’s search’.
Are dockets closed when investigators arrive at dead ends? What goes into an investigation in Ghana for it to take so long so that many citizens seem to have lost hope in the law enforcers while others doubt if professional and right equipment is used during investigations?
In an exclusive interview with the Public Relations Officer for Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department, ASP Joseph Darkwah outlined how investigations are conducted and also, why some cases may take long to unravel offenders.
The CID PRO indicated that no crime docket is closed, or a suspect falsely charged although a case of public interest may delay prosecution; “rather we do a thorough investigation on such cases”.
He noted that even before an investigation begins, “the victim must first go to the police station and make an official report that an offence has been committed; upon that request a detective will be assigned to investigate the case.”
Emphasizing on what investigation is, ASP Darkwah indicated, “it is a way of gathering evidence or information including data collection which has linkage to the offence reported so as to approve or disapprove an alleged offence committed as well as assist trace the perpetrators of the crime who will no longer be suspects but be charged with the offense.”
“We also use interrogations as part of the investigation process. The most important aspect of an investigation is the crime scene which talks for itself, therefore, as soon as the Crime Scene Team get to a scene, the first thing done is to secure the crime scene and then, lookout for evidence including blood samples, used cutleries, machetes, used gadgets (spent shells) or anything that is of evidential purpose,” he outlined.
Adding, “we then take the collected evidence found on the crime scene to the laboratory for forensic analysis so as to know whose items they are; whose blood we found through DNA tests; who touched this or that; whose fingerprint is on the items; where is it from, etc.; therefore, the importance of the crime scene in the investigative process is very paramount.”
ASP Darkwah mentioned that the equipment used in gathering information on a crime scene includes tape measures, camera, cello tape, fingerprint kit, pattern print lifter, trajectory, knife/syringe tube, etc. and plastic sealable bags (paper bags/ containers), “where the items and samples found on the crime scene are kept.”
Asked if there had been cases where there were no witnesses to back evidence, ASP Darkwah indicated, “when there are no witnesses to a case that does not hinder us from going on with our investigations, because the crime scene speaks for itself, yet analysis from the forensic laboratory has a bigger part to play in an investigation.”
On what happens if the crime scene is without a trace to the suspect (perpetrators or offender); he said that every contact made at the scene leaves a trace in all circumstances hence, “they never stop investigation as the offender will in the course of time be linked to his offense either through forensic analysis or profiling.”
“We don’t end investigations and close dockets on such cases, instead, we continue with in-depth investigations and no matter how long it takes, dockets are not closed. It is our responsibility to unravel facts in a criminal case and make sure the perpetrators are brought to book,” ASP Darkwah reiterated.
