Police corruption is a serious problem in Ghana that undermines public trust and confidence in the law enforcement.
According to a recent 2019 report by Transparency International, Ghana ranked 70th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 43 out of 100.
The report also identified the police as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country, with 59% of respondents saying they paid a bribe to the police in the past year.
One of the possible solutions to this problem is the use of body cameras by police officers.
Body cameras are small devices that can be attached to the officer's uniform or helmet, and record audio and video of their interactions with the public. Body cameras can provide evidence of what happened during an incident, and deter both officers and citizens from engaging in misconduct or violence.
Are Police Body Cameras Effective?
Body cameras have been shown to have positive effects on police performance and behavior in other countries. For example, a study in the UK found that body cameras reduced complaints against police officers by 93%, and increased guilty pleas by 14%.
Another study in the US found that body cameras reduced use-of-force incidents by 59%, and citizen complaints by 87%.
Introduction of Body Cameras
Body cameras for the police in Ghana were introduced in 2018 as a way to improve accountability, transparency, and public trust in law enforcement. The cameras were supposed to record every interaction between the police and the public, and provide evidence in cases of misconduct, abuse or corruption.
However, after three years of implementation, has the body camera project delivered on its promise?
In 2019, the Ghana Police received 250 body cameras as part of a GH¢800 million retooling budget announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2018. The first batch of 3,000 body cameras was expected to be delivered by the end of 2019, as part of efforts to enhance police transparency and accountability.
The then Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr David Asante-Apeatu, said that the use of body cameras would help the police a great deal and that officers who failed to produce a report from their body cameras would have to answer.
Use of Body Cameras In The Field
The Police Service introduced a holistic strategy known as OPERATION PAARI (Police Action Against Rider Indiscipline) to combat indiscipline in Ghana.
The first component of the operation involved the deployment of teams of Police riders with body cameras to monitor the conduct of riders at major intersections and other strategic locations.
Transparency and Accountability
There's no concrete information on the number of body cameras currently deployed by the Ghana Police Service and the service hasn't given information on the use of the cameras.
There is no clear policy or mechanism for the public or the courts to request or view the footage in cases of complaints or disputes involving the police.
There is also a lack of independent oversight and monitoring of the body camera project, which leaves room for potential abuse, tampering or deletion of the footage by the police.
The body camera project is a laudable initiative that could have a positive impact on the policing and security sector in Ghana. However, without proper planning, management and oversight, it could also become a wasted opportunity or a tool for further oppression.
The government and the police should take heed of the report's findings and recommendations, and work together with civil society and other stakeholders to make the body camera project a success.
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