As part of efforts to promote sanity on the roads, the Ghana Police Service has activated hotlines to enable members of the public to reach out to the police authorities on their experiences with policemen.
The phone numbers are 0550323323, 0275000156 and 0206639121.
According to the police, the introduction of the phone numbers followed complaints concerning police unprofessional conduct while on traffic, highways patrols, barrier, snap checks, among others.
A statement signed and copied to the Ghanaian Times in Accra on Tuesday by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David Senanu Eklu, Director-General of the Police Public Affairs, explained that the hotlines would enable motorists and passengers to promptly report the unprofessional conduct of the police to the national headquarters.
He said the introduction of the numbers was also in compliance with a directive issued by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr James Oppong-Boanuh last month as part of measures to deal with such complaints.
The Director-General encouraged road users to send videos of police misconduct, including pictures, whatsapp and text messages, and voice calls on police unprofessional conduct and good conduct worth emulating.
ACP Eklu said apart from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), officers on highway patrol or barrier duties were not mandated to conduct motor checks such as inspecting driver’s licences, roadworthy and insurance certificates.
“However, any police officer can conduct traffic related checks based on reasonable suspicion of a road traffic offence, but will have to immediately hand over the case to the Police MTTD, after the preliminary action,’’ he added.
The Director-General explained that the MTTD was the mandated police unit for enforcement of road traffic laws and regulations, among others.
“They are identified in white tunic over black trousers with a peaked cap or combo as a head gear. They sometimes wear reflective jacket on their top uniform to enhance visibility,” he stated.
ACP Eklu said with the highway patrol teams, “they are basically assigned to combat highway robberies and also prevent other crimes on the highway”, adding that “they are mostly identified in normal police operational dress and they are armed”.
He cautioned motorists to adhere to traffic laws on roads and appealed to the public to give maximum cooperation to the police.
BY TIMES REPORTER
