Police corruption is a serious problem in Ghana that undermines public confidence and trust in law enforcement.
According to recent Transparency International’s 2019 reportGhana ranked 70th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 43 out of 100.
The report also identifies the police as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country, with 59% of respondents who said they had bribed the police in the past year.
One of the possible solutions to this problem is the use of body cameras by police officers.
Other studies in the USA found that body cameras reduced incidents of violence by 59%and citizen complaints by 87%.
Body cameras are small devices that can be attached to an 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 prevent both officers and civilians 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 UK study found that body cameras reduced complaints against police officers by 93%and increased guilty pleas by 14%.
Other studies in the USA found that body cameras reduced incidents of violence 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 lived up to its promise?
In 2019, the Ghana Police received 250 body cameras as part of it reconstruction budget of GH800 million announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2018. The first batch of 3,000 body cameras it was expected to be delivered by the end of 2019, as part of efforts to strengthen police transparency and accountability.
There is also a lack of independent oversight and monitoring of body camera work, leaving room for potential misuse, falsification or deletion of footage by police.
The then Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr David Asante-Apeatuhe said the use of body cameras would greatly help the police and that officers who failed to produce a report from their body cameras should be held accountable.
Use of body cameras in the field
The Police Service has 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 Police rider teams with body cameras to monitor rider behavior at major intersections and other strategic locations.
Transparency and Accountability
There is no specific information on the number of body cameras used by the Ghana Police Service and the agency has not released 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 material in cases of complaints or disputes involving the police.
There is also a lack of independent oversight and monitoring of body camera work, leaving room for potential misuse, falsification or deletion of footage by 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 missed opportunity or a tool for further oppression.
The government and police should take note of the report’s findings and recommendations and work with civil society and other stakeholders to make the body camera project a success.
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