SONA 2020: Work Harder On Your Reputation- Prez Akufo-Addo Charges Police

President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo has charged the Police Service to work harder on their reputation.

He said they cannot maintain law and order with a dent reputation.

Speaking during his State of the Nation Address, he explained that his government has resourced and equiped the Police Service more than any other government.

This he says was done to ensure that the police will be able to dispense their functions effectively.

"We will continue to resource the police and the security agencies to enable them to work effectively in ensuring law and order in the country.

"We are also going to increase the intake of personnel into the Police Service until we gradually meet the required ratio for the police across the world.

"But I must say the police are doing well and they should continue with their service to the country," he said.

The Ghana Police Service has been ranked as the most corrupt institution in the country.

According to a survey conducted by the Institute of Economic Affairs, twenty-three percent of the persons spoken to believed that the police are the most corrupt.

Research Fellow at the IEA, Prof. Ransford Gyampoh said the results point to the severity of bribery and corruption in the country.

“The services which people had to pay bribe from the most likely to the least likely are; avoiding a problem with the police, like passing a checkpoint or avoiding a fine or arrest at 6.7%, getting electricity connection is 6.6%, getting a document or a permit is 6.3%; getting treatment at a local hospital that’s 5.1%, getting a place in Government SHS for a child is 5.1%”.

“Respondents’ view on the corruption of ten state institutions namely the office of the President, Members of Parliament, Government Officials, according to the results of our survey, 23 percent of the people were of the opinion that nearly all police officers are corrupt. Only 4.4% said not all police officers are corrupt”.

“The police are followed closely by the office of the President, that’s 19.2%, tax officials at 15.4%, MPs is 15%. Others are generally government officials at 13.9%. DCEs 13.3%, Judges and magistrates’ at 13.1%, Assemblymen and women as 11.9%, Immigration is 10.4% and the army is 7%.  This implies that the army is perceived by the public as the least corrupt institution,” the report stated.