By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday April 10, 2010
THE SON of the late Joseph Baokye (JB) Danquah, one of Ghana’s statesmen says the military is gradually living up to its professional standards but thinks the police have a long way to go in that pursuit.
J B Danquah Jnr., who is a retired civil servant said “people may have their own issues with the military but I think they are now living up to their constitutional mandate. My concern has been with the police who are still struggling to maintain their professional standards,”
In an exclusive interview with DAILY GUIDE in Accra on Sunday, Mr. Danquah said “the police are still not learning their lessons after over 50 years of independence. They are still in their old ways compared to the military. Political influence is not making them work effectively.”
He cited a recent incident where Kofi Adams, a spokesperson for Ex President Rawlings allegedly ordered the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, ACP Rose Bio Atinga to arrest a New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist from a radio station as some of the flashpoints that create negative public perceptions about the Ghana Police Service.
He also cited a situation where a police boss could decline to arrest or bring to order rampaging National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth because he/she thinks the issue is purely an internal party matter as some of the unprofessional ways by which the police is managing affairs of the country.
Mr. Danquah said “it the duty of every police officer to take instructions from the Inspector-General and not from politicians because the police hierarchy knows what is best for the nation. The politicians would always like to use them to fulfill their parochial interests and it is up to the police to stand firm and act professionally.”
He said the conduct of ACP Bio Atinga as the Regional Commander of the nation’s capital is woeful and believes she should be relieved of her position -“she has not satisfied me and a lot of people that she can deliver in such a sensitive position,” he added.
“Look at the military of today. They are in the news for their good performance but the police in most cases are in the news for the wrong reasons.”
Mr. Danquah was also not happy about the way the NDC government is managing security in the country saying “there are conflicts here and there and nobody seems to care.”
He criticized the way President Mills appointed the National Security Coordinator, Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey (Rtd) to lead his quest to seek re-election saying “the Security Coordinator says he has declined the appointment but I still do not believe this. It is just an attempt to divert public attention.”
He described the NDC government as ‘a disaster’; “they promised us a better Ghana but Ghanaians are still suffering.”
He also had a word for Nana Akufo-Addo and Alan Kyerematen who he says must be able to call their followers to order to ensure the NPP goes into the 2012 general elections with a united front saying “the NPP has a realistic chance of winning the election.
Also see : www.dailyguideghana.com
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