CSOs urge Police Service to maintain law, order without fear
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country have asked the police to apply the law without fear or favour in the maintenance of law and order.
According to the CSOs, nobody is above the law except the President of the Republic of Ghana, who has immunity from prosecution whilst in office, and sometime after leaving office.
The Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Mr Kofi Bentil, who spoke on behalf of the CSOssaid this after a meeting with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare and CSOs in Accra on Wednesday.
The meeting was to dialogue between the police and CSOs.
He said the law should be applied evenly regardless of who the person is whether “a Parliamentarian or Minister.”
He called on the public to co-operate and support the police in its mandate by providing them with the right resources.
Mr Bentil said the police should be allowed to do its work, explaining that the current disagreement between Parliament and the police should not be a show but submit to the police processes.
He said parliamentary immunity was not invented by Ghana or Ghanaians, adding it came from the United Kingdom and has a long history.
He said Ghanaians were happy with the current work of the police administration and urged them to work without discrimination.
He commended the Police Service for ensuring that lives and properties were saved in the country.
The acting Director General of the Police Public Affairs, Assistance Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwasi Ofori, told journalists after the meeting that the two organisations have agreed to meet regularly to address challenges facing them.
He said the police would provide best service to the people.
In attendance were Amnesty International, POS Foundation, Human Rights Advocacy Centre, Commonwealth Human Right Initiative, Foundation for Security and Development in Africa, IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Star Ghana Foundation, Ghana Developing Communities Association and Civic Forum Initiative among others.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
