KUDOS, GHANA POLICE SERVICE (NOV 17)

IT is generally known and accepted that the task of effectively combating crime, especially the sophisticated modern crimes of today, requires the involvement and support of the public to complement the efforts of the police.
Those who commit crimes are not just members of the various communities constituting our nation but are actually residents of those areas and are, more often than not, known to some members of society.
While the police, by their training and other individual attributes, are capable and, in fact, do tackle some criminals on their own without the involvement and support of the public, the nature and sophistication of the crimes of today and the increasing ingenuity of criminals to erase traces of their crime to avoid detection make public co-operation in dealing with crimes and criminals a critical imperative.
We are happy that today such vital support and co-operation from the public to the police is taking root and manifesting in the feats our law enforcement officers are chalking to help make society safer and peaceful for all to live their lives.
We are very elated to hear of the speedy breakthrough the Northern Regional Police Command has made in respect of the murder of the late Moses Alando Banaba, the People’s National Convention (PNC) parliamentary candidate in the Nalerigu Constituency in the 2008 election.
We say kudos to ACP Angwubutoge Awuni, the Northern Regional Police Commander, and his men for the speedy and effective manner in which they have gathered and collated intelligence and moved to arrest a number of people suspected to be responsible for Mr Banaba’s murder.
The swift action by the police speaks volumes about their competence, dedication to duty and fortitude and that given the needed support and independent room by the authorities to operate, they can do wonders.
We also recognise that in chalking this feat and others in recent times, including the relentless onslaught against armed robbers, public confidence in the police is once again on the upswing.
If actions such as these are replicated anytime crimes, especially very serious ones, are committed, the inescapable message that goes to the public is that the perpetrators, whoever they are and wherever they may be hiding, will be smoked out and dealt with according to the law. That is what the public expects of their men and women in uniform.
Now that the suspects have been apprehended, we believe that they will be taken through due process as early as possible so that justice will be done. This, among others, should assuage the hurt feelings of the late Banaba’s family and friends.
We urge the police not to rest on their laurels but intensify the hunt for other criminals in high-profile but unresolved murder cases in the region.
We take this opportunity to urge the public, in this free and invigorated atmosphere, to be more readily forthcoming with more information and other forms of support and co-operation to help the police get fully on top of criminal matters.
In doing this, we will be contributing our fair quota to rid our society of criminals and thereby create the opportunity for building a just, orderly and peaceful society.
Once again, kudos to our policemen and policewomen.