We are not ‘actually’ corrupt, it’s only a perception – Police PRO on Afrobarometer

The Ghana Police Service has kicked against “the most corrupt” tag placed on them by the recently released Afrobarometer report indicating that they are victims of perception as they are not actually corrupt.

ACP David Eklu, the Director- General of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service reacting to the recent report said the police service after last year’s similar report took steps to investigate the nature of “perception” of corruption in the police service.

“The survey seems to be back-flogging an issue especially when it comes to perception. I remember when the 2017 Survey was launched, we invited all the anti corruption agencies to the Police Headquarters where the various issues concerning this perception were discussed. We explained that these are issues about perception and because of the nature of the work we do, that perception might always prevail But there are certain interventions that the Police administration has put in place since then to create more awareness about Police procedures, the services they will provide especially in the area of bail, and recently we have even launched a hotline where people can call and lodge complaints.” He said.

He called on the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) to go beyond the publication and collaborate with police to deal with the “perception” issue as the fight against corruption is a “collective responsibility”.

“So we have taken pragmatic steps, ACP Eklu said. ACP Eklu appealed to the CDD to furnish the Police with the full report to enable the Police administration identify the various indicators that informed the findings to guide its programmes and policies” he added.

“I believe that the CDD is one of the CSOs that is working to strengthen public institutions and they must work to strengthen the institutions so that we can look at the ways to reduce these perceptions of corruption. But I am not seeing that collaboration from them. There is more work that both of us have to do to reduce this perception of corruption, ” he said.