Opinions of Tuesday, 13 February 2007
Columnist: Laryea, Samuel
The security apparatus in Ghana embraces the police service, military, Ghana Navy, Customs Excise and Preventive Service, the Fire Service and many others are living up to expectation. Come to think of what the public expects of them. This phenomenon as I see has been long over due as a result of the fact that, many of the citizens most especially the youth are ignorant about their existence or their mandate or functions.
As I ponder over these perceptions argued by sections of the citizens, I begin to ask myself series of questions which include:
(1) What is the public perception of these institutions working to the best of the citizen’s knowledge?
(2) Do they reflect on the oath they took upon passing out?
It seems to me that, the police service have taking their duty to the public very seriously but to the public perception is one of inefficiencies, ineptitude, unruly behaviour by certain officers in the service which indeed drags the name of the service into disrepute. Come to think of it, this batch of people must be identified and flushed out in order to safeguard the integrity of the service as well as the name of Ghana.
As I have said earlier, the military must also play a more significant role by assisting the police service to perform their work to justify of the tax payers expense on them. The military is entrusted to safeguard our land from any external attack in any form to maintain the peace we enjoy currently.
However, the Ghana Navy is also to take care of the waters to prevent any invasions from external sources. They have done a lot and remained a discipline group but have always held a low profile.
Customs, Excise and Preventive Service together with Ghana Immigration Service are tasked to ensure that unauthorised persons are prevented from entering the country or arresting them. The widely held view that Customs Excise and Preventive Service Officers demand money from tourists or persons passing through our borders is an embarrassment to us as Ghanaians and a major source of worry.
Fire Service is also not performing badly at all. Their rapid response to fire outbreaks in homes as well as industries portray a good sign of hard work, commitment and dedication. It is no doubt that they save millions of properties and lives which could have been lost.
I therefore admit for a fact that, our security measures in the country over the past six years under this government, in spite of the few excesses has been massively lauded. This should not licentiate us to be complacent but serve as a catalyst to act meticulously at all times.
As men of Ghana’s security outfit, the blatant exposure of our political colouration is most unacceptable and must be condemned. We must endeavour to hold the good name of Ghana high at all times.