Inspector General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh, has blamed the stiff posture of the security services in various checkpoints enforcing the lockdown directives on the recalcitrant citizens.
The IGP said some people are given unsubstantiated excuses to the security services to allow them pass but such excuses, if allowed, would mire the directives on COVID-19.
Government extended the partial lockdown imposed on some parts of the country by one more week.
The extension took effect from Monday; April 13, 2020, will be subject to review.
“The decision has been taken through the issuance of another executive instrument to extend the restriction of movements in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and Kasoa and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and its contiguous districts by one more week beginning 1am on Monday the 13th of April, subject to review”, the President Akufo-Addo announced on Thursday, April 9, 2020 during a televised address.
This was after the President’s earlier announcement of a two-week partial lockdown of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area including Tema and Kasoa as well as the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area as parts of the effort to stop the spread of the viral disease in the country.
Report suggest that the third week extension has been greeted with stiff and harsh decisions by the security personnel at the various check points where commercial vehicles who are even observing the social distancing directives are being asked to offload the passengers at the checkpoints and return.
Reacting to the development on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa, the IGP said in Twi: “some places do not want to obey the directives and as and when we move on with the enforcements of the directives, we have to improve upon it that is why we have put in stiff measures to enforce the directives”.
Mr. Oppong-Boanuh said “if all the citizens are to obey the rules, the security would not have difficulties but some people are given excuses and these are not something the officers will accept it and allow you to pass”
The police Chief explained that the security officers are mandated to first speak to the civilians when they are stopped at a check point but if they speak to you and you don’t take their directives, they will arrest you and if you resist, they use minimum force to subdue you and take you to the police station”.
Review
The IGP assured that the service will review the operations as and when necessarily to enforce the directives.
“As time goes on, we will review the operations and where the people are not obeying the directives, we shall storm there with police and soldiers. That is why we have intensified the operations but the rules are the same”.
He explained that “the officers at various areas and checkpoints have discretions to either allow or disallow someone to pass”.
Flash point
Mr. Oppong-Boanuh refused to mention any flashpoints areas as far as the lockdown directives are concern but urged the citizens to obey the directives.
“I don’t want to mention names but I urge you all to obey by the laws because mentioning names of area that are being recalcitrant would mean we are lawlessness and I don’t want that. What I would urge is that those in the lockdown areas should abide by the directives and stay home”.
Trotro/taxi
On why commercial vehicles are being turned away by the security services at the various checkpoints, the IGP explained that “they are to work but should observe social distance. If they don’t observe the social distancing, the officers at the barrier have the discretion to let you return”.
He explained that “the people are many in town an if care is not taken, things will be out of hand”.
Journalists
He said “those on special duties, essential workers were given the pass from the National Security Secretariat but those without the pass must be allow to work or pass provided they have an identity cards from their various companies”.
“If you are able to prove with your id card, they have to allow you but they [journalists] are not allowed to be in town anytime unless they are on duties”, he explained.
Source: Ghana|Myjetmedia|Kweku Antwi-Otoo
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