Community Policing was a way of life in Ghana before the modern Police system as we know it. There has always been a system whereby the citizens protected themselves better than the modern concept of policing. Although, vigilantism has become a by- product of the old ways, there are still some concepts we can borrow in advancing our modern policing system. The old philosophy rested on the belief that law-abiding citizens in the community have the responsibility to participate in the policing process.
In Ghana, community policing is not a new concept. Community policing has been a part and parcel of the Ghanaian society for a very long time. In the ancient times, the Chiefs exercised the traditional role of protecting and keeping peace in their various communities. The Chiefs, their “akyiamefo” (linguists) and individuals of the community exercised their authorities to help curb crimes before the British set up their way of policing the communities in the 1800’s.
During the pre-colonial times, our local chiefs had the powers of both civil and criminal courts. We had a traditional system which is comparable to the British criminal justice system. Individuals had rights to arrest without warrants just as the modern day citizens’ arrests. We also had levels of Paramount Chiefs and their sub-chiefs who had different levels of power just as we now have the High Courts, the Districts or Municipal Courts.
An interesting revelation is that, during the pre-colonial era (PCE), the linguist who happened to be the spokesperson for the chief also acted as the prosecutor in the Court of the chief. Another crucial function of the linguist was also to maintain order at meetings and state functions. The messengers of the chiefs also carried symbols of the chiefs’ authority; be it the tail of an elephant or a sword; as the police in modern times carry; a badge as a symbol of authority and powers to arrest.
Ghana has a system of raising alarm (“Awieoo- Wonkye no oo!”), similar to that of the British system of “hue and cry.” When an ordinary person sees another stealing, he/she immediately raises an alarm. As soon as this is done, people in the streets and those in their houses come out to chase the alleged thief. The hue and cry continues until the felon is arrested and taken to the house of the chief (Ahenfie). This system was destroyed when the chiefs lost the power to abdjucate cases. Vigilantism has taken over in modern times by lynching because most people have lost confidence in the Ghanaian Criminal Justice system which leaves a lot to be desired.
There is another school of thought that argues that because the citizens are not well educated in the rudiments of a justice system that says that “one is not guilty until he or she is proven guilty by a Court of proper jurisdiction.” It is my strongest desire that the Ghanaian Criminal Justice system will redeem itself in the coming days to gain the confidence of the population. This is also the cry of the Chief Justice Hon. Georgina Woode and the Inspector General of Police P.K Acheampong. This is very critical in curbing the rise of vigilantism because the people do not like what they see.
I hope that the Community Policing Department of the Ghana Police Service will have enough resources to help in the education of most Ghanaians about the criminal justice system. This will in turn be a good public relations tool for the Police.
It will also help participants in carrying out their civic responsibility in crime prevention. They will now have the knowledge and the tools in policing their neighborhoods.
Crime Prevention is very critical in nation building and so our schools ought to have it as part of the curriculum. While we are at it, why not have Police Cadets programs also in most Ghanaian schools? If our nation wants to progress, we should incorporate Police Cadet Programs that would help in the education of our young and also inculcate in them the principle of crime and corruption prevention.
As Ghanaians, we should encourage our Ghana Police Service to carry on community policing by setting an example by doing away with “Police Barracks.” Our uniformed men and women ought to live in the communities where they serve and set honest and professional examples in crime prevention. It is sad to note that today, many people would rather take the law into their own hands rather than going to call on the Police or take their cases to Court.
It is interesting to note that in some cities in America today, Police officers are allowed to take the patrol vehicles home and research has shown that the mere sight of their vehicles alone acts as a crime prevention technique. There is also a lack of proper crime statistics which create a very negative image in a developing nation. Fear of crime is more dangerous than crime itself. I hope that as Ghanaians, we will join forces with the Ghana Police Service and create a non-partisan Community Policing as an institution to help in the prevention of crime and corruption. The Ghana Police Service needs our help and cooperation because according to Commissioner of Police, George Asiamah , the Director General in charge of legal and special duties now serving as a UN advisor in Georgia, the highest ever police to population ratio (PPR) was achieved in 1971, at. 1: 941. By the year 2000, the police to population ratio had decreased to 1:1421 and most recently in December 2005, the PPR was about 1:1178, based on an estimated 17,944 police officers serving about 21.13 million Ghanaians and others.
As Ghanaians we have to join hands with all interested parties all over the World to form a non partisan coalition to help equip the Ghana Police Service with vehicles, training and other needed tools. The Ghana Police Service needs our support. The Criminal Justice system as a whole is indeed of reforms, a paradigm shift and if it is to be done, it is up to us all.
I rest my case.
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