Reforming the Police Service for Effective Policing in Ghana’s Fourth Republic

In democracies the police are expected to discharge their duty of combating and preventing crime within the confines of the law and public support. However, across the world, police organisations have come under serious criticisms and condemnations because of officers’ professional misconducts which contribute to police integrity loss. Addressing these issues requires reforms which would ensure and improve a positive public image of the police. This chapter examines two key areas of police reform in Ghana: reforms to improve public trust and confidence in the police and police professional conduct. The study notes that the establishment of the Community Policing Unit (CPU) has strengthened the police service’s engagement with civilians and the creation of the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) has enhanced its public image. However, the police still have trust and integrity challenges resulting from unprofessional conduct by police officers. The study recommends a review of the 1992 Constitution about who appoints the IGP and the very senior officers of the police service to make the police truly independent. It also recommends the establishment of an independent body outside of police control to be responsible for holding police accountable for professional misconduct.