In this our democratic state, to demonstrate or embark on a peaceful march, one needs to inform the Police in writing to seek for permission or approval and protection on the the day of demonstration, even if it is a peaceful float to be followed by presentation of a petition.
In this Donkorkrom case, the Police from whom the citizens would have sought permission were the same people to be demonstrated or petitioned against.
The people failed to seek approval before the float. It wasn’t prearranged. The news of escape of the two corps ignited the float which was to be followed by a presentation of a petition to the Police Commander.
The people had gone to present a petition to the Police Commander but when they got there the Police were already in crowd dispersal apparatuses.
The Police in their judgement though the people were there to attack them and started firing tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd. Seeing that this measure did not scare the crowd, the Police begun firing live rounds.
When the people realized some of their brothers had been wounded by the rounds being fired at them they retreated, regrouped then attacked the Police, torched the Police post and part of the barracks. This action by the people tainted their case.
Now that you have burned down the Police post and part of the barracks people will find difficult to believe you went there initially to present a petition to the Police Commander.
Torching part of the barracks and Police vehicles must never be judged right. It will require resources to rehabilitate the Police post and part of the barracks torched.
Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah once said, “Change when too long delayed or denied will cause accumulated grievances to erupt like volcano” [paraphrased]
The fact that a large number of residents thronged to the Police station did not in any way establish their guilt rather it portrays their frustrations and anger at the Police who have turned into hardened criminals robbing rather than protecting lives.
About 70% of the Police in the area have become thieves in uniform. It is an open secret that long serving personnel of the Police in Donkorkrom have become money conscious to the extent that the least opportunity they get, they will extort money from the people. Even on their beds they devise means of extorting money from the poor folks. Some are debt collectors seeing that majority of the people are ignorant of the duties of the Police.
Conversely, the police in my opinion were wrong to have fired live rounds. To cover their wrong, they misinformed the Police High Command by telling a story to their favour when in actual fact they misjudged the actions of the youth and applied maximum force instead of minimum force.
The Police is to protect lives and property. The priority must be on the protection of lives but not to destroy lives. Is the use of live rounds likened to minimum force? When properties are destroyed money can be obtained elsewhere to replace the destroyed properties but not loss of life.
Both sides have erred. The situation at hand now needs a nonpartisan approach to resolve the issue. To withdraw the Police from Donkorkrom will not be fair to the rest of the people who are innocent. We must remember that a life have been lost by the ripple action of the two corps. Loosing a life and loosing a police post which is grievous?
The decision by the Police High Command to go to the ground to ascertain facts of the story is in good taste. This will enable the Police Command to take a judicious decision.
You can agree or disagree with me but this is my opinion. You are entitled to your opinion.
The Ghana Police Handbook is available online in pdf format, download it, read it and be abreast with the duties, and conducts of the Police personnel in your area.
It is time we educate ourselves.