Uninstitutionalized Institutions In Ghana-Police Vrs Military Comflict

For the sake of the confusion that the word "institution" conotes,let me define the variable l am dealing with here. An institution as defined by Wikipedia" is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given human community. Institutions are identified with a social purpose and permanence, transcending individual human lives and intentions, and with the making and enforcing of rules governing cooperative human behavior." This means that institutions suggest not only the making of rules for a society but the acknowledgement as well as the enforcement of these laws.In other words institutions go beyond physical structures and personalities but the very social oreintation of a society.

News of law enforcement agencies brutalizing and intimidating civilians in Ghana is an every day occurance which more or less has become a negative aspect of our daily social live as a country.No body messes with you if you are a friend or family to" the men in uniform." Governments have come and gone but none seems to be able or has even shown any political will to tackle this canker.This is as a result of not the absence of laws but lack of law enforcement,supervision,review of individaul cases and of course weak leadership.

Constitutionally the president is the Commander in Chief of the armed Forces and the Vice President is the Chairman of the police.l need not be a lawyer to point out the serious trasonable offences that have been committed by ,against and between these political offices. In February this year,there were reports of military assults on police personel on duty at various parts of the Ashanti Region notably at Santasi Roundabout in Kumasi and Awia Nkwanta off the Kumasi-Obuasi road.By simple inference from the constitutional provision above this is a treasonable offence that can only happen in a country as ours.This means that there is some friction between the office of the President and that of the Vice President.An assult on the police is an assult on Ghana and therefore tantamount to treason.But instead of treating this as a serious assult on our country and our very constitution,our media which tauts itself as the "fourth estate of the realm" made about just a few noise about it and the matter as usual died and was replaced by NPP/NDC music again. I was personally not disturbed at the time though because the police have been flexing their musles on innocent civilians so why should l warry when "an animal bites the snake" As if that was not enough, last Friday, about eight soldiers allegedly beat up three policemen and a community protection assistant of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) while they were on duty directing traffic in Tamale.No mather their reasons they had no right to have done what they did more especially when these are not the same police personnel who might have offended them.They call it "collatral damage" but it is wrong.The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that he and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen Peter Blay, had held initial discussions last Saturday and yesterday and given instructions on the next line of action to both commands in the Northern Region.This is what they always do...cover up the mess or sweet it under the carpet and pretend all is well.There is only one course of action adn its the easiest too.....find the culprits and bring them to book.

These institutions have clear cut operational guidelines and responsibilities but these institutions have been compromised on political lines by the politicians for their selfish political gains and therefore find it difficult to deal with situation like this.

It is hardly for one to see a soldier on the streets of London in uniform.This is not a law but a convention in the army upheld by the high command.A police officer is feared in UK than a soldier.I personally observed the August London Riots and l saw the professionalism with which the police behaved even though l personally l thought their methods were slugish.The internal security of the country is the sole responsibility of the police.The army/military comes in to assist in certain times or to perform specific dutie and then move back to the barracks.

Our political leaders can start by strengthening these institutions by one, detaching themselves from it and at the same time ensuring that the chaff/waste in the system are swept away.They can start by ensuring that every soldier who took part in the Friday assult is arrested and brought to justice so that this will serve as a deterent to others. The victims of these assult cases must also be compensated so as not to kill the general morale in the police service.

Twumasi Bismark(Osebo),Chingford-London