By Anastasia Antonelli
The Ghana Police Service (GPS) is a local agency that practices law enforcement in Ghana, it is responsible for maintaining public order, ensuring safety and upholding justice. It plays a critical role in crime prevention, investigation and adequate law enforcement across the nation with the Government by their side under the ministry of interior.
This organization began in 1894, during the British colonial rule, it was initially established as a small paramilitary unit and over decades it revolved into a qualified police force. After Ghana gained independence in 1957 it acquired its current organizational structure and mission.
Ghana’s city, Accra, is home to the GPS headquarters. It ensures effective law enforcement at the national and local levels by operating through a number if regional and divisional commands around the nation. The inspector- Generak of Police (IGP), who is in charge of operations, policy enforcement, and strategic planning, is the head of the service. Dr Geroge Akuffo Dampare, who was appointed in 2021, is the current IGP. The GPS has implemented a number of reforms under his direction to enhance public trust and policing. Its vision is to be a world class police service that delivers democratic policing with integrity and efficiency, while maintaining professionalism, accountability, transparency and respect for human rights.
The Domestic Violence and Victim Support unit (DOVVSU), the motor Traffic and Transport department (MTTD), and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) are among the specialised units run by the GPS. These units deal with particular elements of law enforcement such as traffic control, crime investigation, and safeguarding vulnerable populations. The Police Visibility and Community Policing initiative is one of the recent initiatives in the Ghana police service that attempts to improve police public relations by increasing patrols and social engagement. In order to increase efficiency, the service has also implemented digital policing techniques like body cams for police and an emergency response system.
In the past, the GPS had issues with bribery and police corruption. To address these issues, new leadership has placed a stronger emphasis on professionalism and better training, yet the public perception of the police is still divided; some applaud the improvements, while others criticise the polices ongoing corruption. Social media (TikTok, Facebook) and news platforms frequently discuss police operations, GPS has leveraged these platforms to engage with the public and update citizens on security measures.
Overall even though the GPS has improved its public relations and modernised its operations, people still worry about bribery and slow justice. More effort is needed towards openness, greater training and accountability procedures in order for the organization to successfully accomplish its purpose of keeping law and order in Ghana. This institution is vital for maintaining national security while progress has been made by creating such an organisation it shows that there is indeed an issue at hand, but more work is needed to ensure proper law enforcement.
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