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SECURITY

IPCC is a Remedy to Curb Police Misconduct and Abuse of the Constitution

The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) with support from STAR GHANA, on Tuesday September 25, 2018 organized a community forum on the establishment of an independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC) in Ghana. The forum took place at the forecourt of the Wechiua Naa’s palace in Wechiua, the Wa West District Capital.

Date Created : 9/28/2018 4:26:21 AM : Story Author : Saani Abacha/northenlens.net

Madam, Mina Mensah, Executive Member of the Commonwealth Human Right Initiative (CHRI), said the community forum is initiated to introduce to the citizens an advocacy CHRI is doing for establishment of IPCC. She noted that, there is the need for a civilian body to be established to investigate police misconduct, not the police investigating itself. According to her, In 2014 a stakeholder discussions were held and they all agreed to the establishment of the commission but had not agreed on where to set it.

She further indicated that, they are advocating for an entirely new body that meets international standard with a legal framework to oversee the Ghana Police Service. Mina added that, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and its partners do not have the power to establish such an organization but only to advocate for the IPCC establishment outside police jurisdiction.

The Civil Society organization is confident that, since the Police Intelligence and Professional standards (PIPS) is an internal mechanism, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will be the best tool to check the actions and inactions of the police.

A cross section of the gathering present lamented over various police misconduct and gross display of incompetence and corrupt attitude of the police force in the District.

Metue Naa Bandanaa Cheelenaa on behalf of the people of Wa West District accepted and endorses the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to help curb the misconduct of the Ghana Police Service in the area.

Meanwhile, in 2014 the Ghana Police Service presented a proposal for the establishment of the commission to the Ministry of Interior.