THE National Co-ordinator for the Ghana Network for Peace-building (GHANEP), Mr Justin Bayor has described the call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye to resign as misplaced.
According to him, the resignation of the IGP would not be the solution to incidence of mob violence among the youth and stressed that what civil society needed to do was to advocate more logistical support for the police service to enable it to deal effectively with the rampaging youth.
“We also have to continue to advocate the independence of the police service to free it from any political interference that may affect its work,” he stated.
Mr Bayor, made these remarks when he spoke with the Daily Graphic, on the call made by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), a pressure group, for the IGP to resign.
Recently, some members of AFAG held a press conference to demand the resignation of the IGP due to what, they claimed, was growing mistrust among sections of the Ghanaian society regarding the conduct of the police service.
The group cited the recent cases of violence in Atiwa and the fact that the police had not arrested the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman, Dr Kwabena Adjei for the alleged threat on the judiciary as some of the reasons why some people were losing confidence in the police.
He said the police had on countless occasions shown that when resourced adequately and allowed to work independently, they would be more proactive and professional.
Mr Bayor said the government needed to support the police because whether the government believed it or not, the actions of the rampaging youth in various parts of the county were tarnishing its image.
He said the various incidents of mob violence smacks of a break down in law and order and the failure to deal with the architects of such illegal actions reinforced the perception that the government was controlling the police.
Mr Bayor mentioned that the GHANEP, through its electronic database centre, had recorded recent cases of mob violence among the youth in at least seven towns. They are Jirapa, Tamale, Wenchi, Karaga, Walewale Oda and Kibi.
“These incidents are becoming worrisome to the extent that some youth even dare the police not to stand in their way,” he lamented, adding that it was high time the police brought these law breakers to order.
Mr Bayor also urged the various political parties to activate their internal party structures which were meant to resolve disputes and harmonise the opposing interests among party members.
“Politicians should also desist from making electoral promises that are unattainable, since failure to actualise these promises usually leads to these violent protests,” he further suggested.
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