Commissioner of Police (COP) Kofi Boakye
Elsewhere in this edition, the Police Administration as represented by Commissioner of Police (COP) Kofi Boakye, has served notice that cops would fight back when they are attacked in the line of duty.
Of course, given the number of times cops have been attacked by both civilians they serve and reckless and unruly soldiers, the reaction is understandable. Â Cops are in the constant sight of daredevil armed robbers who have killed some of them in action and injured others. Cops have had enough of tribulations; we agree.
While Kofi, and for that matter, the Police Administration was not specific about which segment of society the warning is being directed at, we can simply state that the cap fits unruly soldiers who have in recent times gained notoriety for attacking police personnel although some civilians are guilty of the inappropriate conduct too.
Matters won’t get to a stage where the two agencies would be calling each others’ bluffs. That would be tantamount to total breakdown of law and order of unimaginable proportions bordering on mutiny. With a government in place and the constitution, we would not get to that notch, no, never.  The high commands of the two agencies are dealing with the incidents which took place in some parts of the country and it is our hope that we would not be reporting about a recurrence, not anymore.
We appreciate the angst of the Police Administration and wish to state that taking it easy would be in the best interest of all. That is not to say that police personnel should fold their arms as soldiers breach the laws of the nation simply because they are in OGs.
Where an offence by a soldier must be dealt with, as some indeed are, by the civil police, let them carry on even as the relevant unit commanders of the defaulters are appropriately informed. We beseech the Police Administration to remain calm because its tone, while harsh, bespeaks a certain level of preparation for a ‘next time’.
Let soldiers who continue to justify their conduct to come off it because disciplined personnel do not behave the way they did. The channels of addressing issues are available and should be resorted to by all means in the interest of public order and peace.
As we compose this commentary, a high powered committee has been empanelled to probe the incidents, especially, the Tamale episode. It is our expectation that the committee would identify the defaulters so appropriate sanctions would be taken against them. No punishment would be too much for soldiers who easily mobilize troops from the barracks to go and undertake an illegal operation such as beating up police personnel and civilians. The outcome of the committee’s work, especially, recommendations should be made public.
Ghanaians are waiting anxiously to see what sanctions would be prescribed for those responsible for the chaos because, after all, we are ruled by law. Anything short of a severe punishment would definitely trigger a future recurrence.