Private legal practitioner Kwame Boafo Akuffo, has warned that Ghana risks weakening its international image and internal security if it fails to take decisive action against the abuse of citizens, including journalists, by security forces.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, August 2, Mr Akuffo said law and order in the country had broken down significantly, with impunity becoming the norm.
“I’d like to take the matter past the issue of journalists,” he said. “I think that journalists cannot be safe in this republic unless law and order in the republic is maintained for each and every member of the society.”
He stressed that there is a growing tendency for individuals to take the law into their own hands, especially in everyday disputes. According to him, this trend has become alarming.
“We have come to the point where people now take the law into their hands for the resolution of every simple dispute,” he said. “For example, when there’s an accident on the road, people no longer wait for the police. People will attack the driver.”
He added that confrontations between drivers and motorcyclists often escalate into violence, causing what he described as “grave collateral damage”.
“As a society, I think we’re beginning to lose the plot to the protection of the citizens,” he warned. “And it is that sore which is now festering into other sectors.”
Mr Akuffo described recent attacks on journalists as “very dangerous for our democracy” and said such incidents undermine accountability and transparency in governance.
“You’re now headed in a place where persons who will broadcast and throw a light on persons who are to be accountable to us are now being suppressed by fear and threat and in fact, implementation of assault,” he said.
He also called on President Mahama to go beyond words and take concrete action to ensure that perpetrators are punished. “The call by the President, while it’s a good call, must be seen through,” he stated.
“The President has spoken, but what is next? We all await what is next, because unless implementation and examples are set, people will not change, and this sort of behaviour will continue.”
Mr Akuffo cautioned that a failure to act decisively weakens the state and damages Ghana’s image in the sub-region.
“It weakens the state and the image of the republic in the eyes of our neighbours and we should do better,” he said.
He urged Ghanaians to understand that maintaining law and order must be a shared national responsibility.
“Law and order is not just for the benefit of the journalist. It’s for everybody from Accra to Gambaga, from Keta to Sefwi. It’s important,” he added.
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