The Inspector-General of Police has assured drivers that they will soon notice changes on the roads. The IGP is optimistic that police officers who have no business in enforcing law and order at the various barriers will be removed because there is no need to keep them there. His comment follows a meeting with some drivers belonging to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Takoradi.
He was engaging the drivers on how to reduce the frequent road accidents in Ghana recently and how to end the menace. During the open forum, the drivers did not hide their displeasure when they openly chastised the police for playing several roles in the accidents. One of their concerns was that the only interest of police officers who are on the various barriers is the checking of licenses and nothing else.
This situation is a huge worry because they are not interested in any other issues about the vehicle, they don’t lookout for any form of illegalities in the vehicles apart from the license. According to the drivers, if the police barriers focus more on safety and legal issues, road accidents will be a thing of the past. They also did not hide their worries about the bribes being demanded by police officers, they believe that drivers engage themselves in all forms of illegalities because they know it will be easier to pay their way through when they get to the police barriers.
After listening to the concerns, the IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare applauded the drivers for speaking the truth. He has assured the drivers that there will be changes on the roads from the following week. The police will soon roll out a technology where drivers will have the opportunity to seek clarification of their offenses from the barriers by calling an assisted police officer from the headquarters. Apart from this, only officers who are serious about ensuring law and order on the road will be deployed with those who are only interested in bribe-taking being sent off. The IGP assured the drivers that it is tax payer’s money that keeps the police administration running and there is no need for any officer to burden the same taxpayer with illegal collections.
This is good news and it has been received by all the drivers in good faith. If only the IGP will fulfill his promises, sanity will prevail on the roads and that will be a great achievement. The IGP has already exhibited signs that he is ready to restore the integrity of the police service and this promise cannot be mere rhetoric. He is trusted to work at it and Ghanaians will forever be grateful.
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