The Ghana Police Service should not be allowed to investigate itself in the excesses committed by some of its members in the course of the Democracy Hub protests.
ACP Dr. Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo, a retired Police officer and a one-time Head of Operations of the Police Service who is making this call says whenever the police investigates itself in such instances, they tend to vindicate themselves.
According to him, the fact that the police denied the issues that were raised and admitting it later suggests nothing will come out of the probe if it is conducted by the police itself.
Citing instances of the ‘Let my vote count’ demonstration in 2015 where people were beaten with someone losing his eye, the ex-police officer stated that the police set up a committee to investigate the issue but did not yield any results.
He is suspecting that the current situation will not be any different.
“I admit that the police could investigate some of these things but not when an issue of such a national character has been raised. Police denied it initially and now they have admitted it. Why should police investigate itself?
“When police investigate themselves, they turn to be lenient towards themselves. They tend to support themselves, they tend to vindicate themselves,” he said on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, September 28, 2024.
Aside from the ‘Let my vote count’ protest, ACP Agordzo (Rtd) also cited a probe by the police on a protest where someone was killed and has not adduced any report up to date.
The ex-police officer’s comments come on the back of the police’s admission that two of the 53 persons arrested in the course of the demo were detained beyond 48 hours without being put before the court.
In a statement released Thursday, September 26, the police described the situation as regrettable and announced that the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) would investigate the matter.
“As part of our efforts to be transparent, and maintain high ethical and professional standards, the Police Administration has directed the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB, formerly PIPS) to investigate the circumstances under which two of the suspects were kept in Police custody beyond 48 hours without being sent to court, for the necessary disciplinary action to be taken against those responsible,” the police stated.
Democracy Hub protestors ‘are political prisoners, they have not committed any offence’ – Kpebu
An Accra Circuit Court remanded leading members of Democracy Hub, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Felicity Nelson and 11 others into Police custody for two weeks.
Lawyers of the protesters had applied for a bail after they pleaded not guilty. Aside Oliver Barker Vormawor who was charged with 8 counts of offenses including, offensive conduct to the breach of peace and stealing, the remaining 12 were charged with 6 offenses.
The Judge handing the matter, Kwabena Obiri Yeboah ordered the Police to cater for the feeding of the protesters after reports that they had been starved for about 3 days.
After missing his first arraignment on day 1 due to health reasons, Oliver Barker-Vormawor was escorted to the circuit court limping and frail.
Fanny Otoo was however unable to make it to the cour Oliver’s lawyer, Dr Justice Srem Sai argued in court that the Police had neglected his client and denied him prompt medical care until he collapsed while in custody.
Meanwhile, the Police have denied reports of using force against anyone during the Democracy Hub demonstration last weekend despite provocations.
Following the violence that characterized the protest, the Police said that 54 persons were arrested and all of them have been put before the court in line with the due process of the law.
