Dr. George Akuffo Dampare Plans 10 Minutes Response Time For Police

Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa. However, it still faces its share of insecurities. Although it is often hard to predict when criminals will strike, the response time of security operatives can make a huge difference.

Ghana’s Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare said the law enforcement body is working on ways to reduce the country’s robbery response time to 10 minutes. To achieve this feat, the IGP will be deploying 2,000 personnel across the highways in the coming days and providing them with motorbikes.

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George Akuffo Dampare made this known while giving a public address on policing at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The IGP reemphasized the police’s commitment to protecting lives and properties across the nation.

“We are working to minimize robbery and improve crime response time to a maximum of 10 minutes all over the country,” the IGP said. “This is possible and we will do it. Officers patrolling the highways are the reason there are no more robberies there. With 2,000 motorbikes, we will have officers patrolling all highways all over the country.”

George Akuffo Dampare plans to reduce police misconduct

Police misconduct is another major problem facing both developing and developed countries alike. We can recall that the Black Lives Matter protest that spread across the globe was sparked by police brutality.

In addition to working towards more efficient ways to combat crime, George Akuffo Dampare is also exploring ways to minimize misconduct in the force. To this effect, the IGP has mandated that the names of officers be sewn into their uniforms rather than having them as removable tags.

With names sewn to the uniforms of the officers, the public can easily identify and prosecute errant officers. This is particularly impressive because most officers easily remove their name tags when they err to avoid identification.

The place of intelligence and surveillance in fighting crime

Proper intelligence gathering can foil crimes even before they happen. Most African countries currently have inadequate or failed intelligence gathering. The result of this paucity is that criminals tend to operate and get away with crimes without ever being caught or interrupted during their crimes

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Backed by this knowledge, George Akuffo Dampare revealed that the Police Service has revved up its intelligence operations by earmarking ample funds and human resources in that regard.

“Our intelligence officers are scattered everywhere, in shops, Ubers, and communities. This is costing the Ghanaian police huge money. However, it is necessary to get the job done.”

Ways to further enhance policing across West Africa

West African nations seem to be facing a similar insecurity threat. From Nigeria to Mali, and Sierra Leone, there is rising insecurity and civil protests. The steps that George Akuffo Dampare highlighted are brilliant. However, the key factors fueling crime need to be addressed for long-lasting peace.

At the top of that list is unemployment. With the rising unemployment rate across the West African region, many youths are turning to crime to make ends meet. The government should work on creating more jobs for the young population to keep them engaged.

Perhaps, one of the ways to do that is by recruiting more youths into the police force. Also, the government should work on increasing the welfare packages of the officers to boost their motivation and zeal to work.

While the continent’s large youth population is one of its greatest strengths, if not properly managed, the continent will have to deal with more waves of insecurities in the future.