Shoring up Morale

IGP Paul Tawiah Quaye

Morale is crucial in the performance of every labour force. Nowhere is this more important, perhaps, than in the security services such as the military and the police- two sister organizations in terms of their previous belongingness to the Gold Coast Constabulary and regimentation.

As one state agency whose performance is always under the public radar, Ghanaians should be concerned about the welfare of policemen, who this commentary is about.

We have more often than not had cause to fret over what we deem to be the underperformance of our cops, ignoring mostly the extent to which they are manipulated by greedy politicians who would do everything to protect their interests, even if this would contaminate the image of the profession of policing, as it has done already anyway.

It is this concern for developments in this agency which prompted this commentary, with a view to influencing positive alterations in policing in the country.

No matter what logistics are placed at the disposal of personnel, if their morale is dampened as a result of deliberate overlooking of standard procedures in promotions and ancillary issues, there is bound to be failure.

We have been reliably informed about how the non-appointment of Commissioners of Police from the pool of qualified Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCOPs) is impacting negatively on the morale of these Superior Police Officers.

Persons at this level of the professional ladder in the police can only grumble in silence lest they attract the wrath of the politicians at the helm. The consequences of such wrath can lead to such persons being labeled NPP, the consequences of which can only be imagined at this time in Ghana’s political history.

Some have already been so labeled and their plight can only be imagined.

We know about how the only Commissioner of Police, a lady, was rudely uprooted from her schedule and is currently perhaps vegetating at the Food and Drugs Board. These are bizarre times indeed and public officials who step on the toes of politicians could be crudely dealt with.

For those DCOPs whose promotions are due, prayers and only prayers would see them out of their entrapments, since at this stage, only the political Police Council can authorize such an elevation.

Policing is a stressful occupation or profession if you like. But even though a faux pas can earn public fury, politicians still sacrifice police officers as a face-saving option.

With the recent transition of Cadet Officers to the rank of Assistant Superintendents of Police, a somewhat bloated bottom segment of the security agency has been created.

We are by this commentary bringing to the notice of the Chairman of the Police Council that there is a muffled grumbling among the promotion-overdue DCOPs.

We would entreat the Council to study the condition as it exists, with a view to addressing it so that morale among this critical segment of the service would be lifted.