Uniformed personnel are sworn protectors of the law, but many have fallen, exchanging the blue-black attire for dirty-white apparel with black star patches or civilian mufti.
This disturbing trend has cast a shadow over those entrusted to protect lives and property.
They could have been wearing badges of honour shoulder high; instead, they carry a blot that trumpets their failures.
Despite efforts to uphold justice and ensure public safety, these rogue officers have become threats to the same people they have been mandated to protect.
The Ghana Police Service has undergone some reforms to enhance its image, but the ‘bad nuts’ continue to show up when least expected.
From victims who died or suffered at the hands of police officers to those who were the subjects of extortion, this article by The Ghana Report highlights 10 incidents involving Ghanaian police officers who missed it.
- Police shoot man dead after disagreement over fare
On Sunday, August 18, 2024, around 4 a.m., General Constable Smith Gyeke killed an unarmed civilian without hesitation.
The policeman, who doubled as a ride-hailing driver, had gone for his usual rounds to make extra money.
Constable Gyekyi had picked up a passenger, Esther Owusua, from Ablekuma Joma and was transporting her to the Koans Estate area.
Ms. Owusua had called Stanley Ahadzi to assist her with directions to her destination.
However, upon his arrival, a dispute ensued between the two men over the fare Ms. Owusua was supposed to pay.
The situation escalated, and Constable Gyekyi, who was allegedly annoyed, pulled out his sidearm and shot Stanley Ahadzi.
The victim died instantly.
Constable Gyekyi surrendered himself to the police at Amasaman and has been detained.
His pistol has been confiscated for further investigations.
- Police Inspector Shots And Kills Girlfriend Over GH¢5,000
A police officer, Inspector Ahmed Twumasi, on Thursday, April 20, 2023, shot and killed his girlfriend in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Immediately after the incident, the officer went into hiding and was eventually apprehended at Sekyere, near Effiduase in the Ashanti Region, as a result of a special police operation.
The victim, Victoria Dapaa, also known as Maa Adwoa, was the girlfriend of the suspect.
Inspector Twumasi confessed to killing her because she failed to repay a GH¢5,000 debt.
This was contained in the facts presented before the Asokore Mampong District Court.
- Driver’s mate allegedly shot by police at Danchira
Again, on Saturday, July 27, a driver’s mate was reported to be in critical condition after being shot by a police officer at a checkpoint in Danchira, Ga South Municipality, Greater Accra Region.
The incident happened when the victim’s vehicle, a Kia truck with registration number GE 9643 W, was stopped at a police checkpoint opposite the Danchira police station.
According to the driver, Isaac Okyere, he was stopped at the Danchira Police snap checkpoint in the evening after delivering electrometers to an Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) subcontracted company at Oblogo in the Weija Gbawe Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
He began to drive off after answering all questions from a community police assistant at the checkpoint.
According to him, Corporal Franklin Forson, with service number 50987, fired into the empty bucket of the truck without any provocation after he moved the vehicles a few metres into his journey.
The bullets from the assault rifle penetrated the cabin and struck his mate, who got severely injured and was rushed to the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba.
- Senior Police Officer Shoots and Kills Junior Colleague
A junior cop was at the receiving end on April 26, 2023, when he was shot dead by a senior police officer after an argument between the two.
Constable David Gbati was shot while travelling with the senior officer to Awaso in the Bibiani-Anwhiaso-Bekwai Municipality in the Western North Region on Friday evening.
It is reported that the senior officer who shot Constable Gbati was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
The body of the deceased was taken to the Sefwi Wiawso Government Hospital morgue.
The suspect, ASP Frank Nsiah, was detained at the Sefwi Bekwai Police Station for further investigations.
READ ALSO: Death before trial: 14 times suspects perished in police custody
- 2 police officers interdicted for extortion
Two police officers, Lance Corporal Philimon Agbevem and Lance Corporal Peter Gbadagbo, were interdicted for allegedly extorting money from a motor pillion rider in Accra.
The incident reportedly occurred on July 22, 2024.
A statement issued by the police confirmed the interdiction of the two police officers after the allegations went viral, drawing the attention of the police leadership.
The statement further noted that both officers were subjected to further investigations.
The police assured that the said officers would face due process of the law.
- Police officer interdicted for unprofessional conduct
A Police Chief Inspector, Benjamin Doe Kuwornu, stationed in the Central Region, was interdicted for unprofessional conduct.
A statement from the Ghana Police Service said the officer was sighted by the administration misconducting himself in a video.
The interdiction was followed by an investigation into his conduct in line with Police Service Regulations.
The police, however, did not give further details about the nature of the misconduct.
But the officer could be heard in a viral video criticizing President Nana Akufo-Addo, describing him as “incompetent” and destroying Ghana’s resources.
“Mr. President, I want to meet you one-on-one. Mr. President, you are destroying our nation, and I want to tell you to your face that you are incompetent and you are not managing the state resources in the interest of the nation,” he stated.
- Police officer interdicted for assaulting civilian
A police officer stationed at the Takoradi District Police Command, General Corporal Wise Bessey, was interdicted for allegedly assaulting a civilian in the Western Region.
A statement from the police said the interdiction was to pave the way for a thorough investigation into the incident and the professional conduct of the police officer in line with Police Service Regulations.
The victim has since been contacted by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, and assured of the needed police assistance and a thorough investigation into the incident.
A statement by the police added, “We would like to assure the general public that the police will continue to ensure that professionalism is maintained at all times in the discharge of our mandate.”
- Police officer interdicted for allegedly smoking a narcotic drug
A uniformed police officer, Sergeant Isaac Nii Sowah, with service number 42681, who was captured in a viral video smoking a substance suspected to be a narcotic drug, was also interdicted.
A statement confirming his interdiction was posted on the police’s official social media account on Friday, June 10, 2022.
The police said the sergeant would be taken through the necessary disciplinary and legal action.
In addition, he would be given the necessary psychosocial support in line with the new strategic police welfare policy.
- 6 police officers interdicted for sporadic shooting at Lamashegu
In February 2022, six police officers involved in the shooting incident at Lamashegu in Tamale were interdicted after preliminary investigations.
The six cops attached to the Tamale District Patrol team are Samson Kweku Darfour, Corporal Prosper Mormesimu (both Corporals), Harrison Twum Danso, Mathew Sah, Nuhu Muntari, and Doris Serwaa Bonsu (all four are Constables).
One of the cops allegedly shot a resident who had gone to seek refuge at the Palace of the Lamashegu Chief, leading to bloody riots.
Following the incident, one person was confirmed dead, while seven others sustained various degrees of injuries.
According to eyewitnesses, the cops, who were on patrol duty, came across a young man who was driving an unregistered private vehicle.
The police stopped him, but he drove off at top speed towards the palace. The police then fired in the car’s direction, hitting one person in the process.
- Policeman jailed for defiling a minor
An Accra Circuit Court sentenced a community police officer, Bright Dzebu, with the Airport Police Station for defiling a 10-year-old girl.
Officer Bright Dzebu was sentenced to 15 years after a full trial.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement but was found guilty by the court presided over by Christiana Cann.
It was the view of the court that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt and established that the convict had lured the girl into his room and had unprotected sex with her.
Delivering her judgment, Mrs. Cann described Dzebu as a menace and a threat to society who needed to be put away immediately.
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