Permanent posting cause of corruption in MTTU

Page 44: Daily Graphic, February 11, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A FORMER National Security Co-ordinator, Mr Kofi Bentum Quantson, has noted that corruption has become endemic at the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service because of the practice of permanent posting to the unit.
“Obviously, the place is seen as a lucrative posting and it is common knowledge that some policemen and women actively lobby their way to get there in order to make money for themselves and those who posted them to the unit,” he said.
Commenting on the recent arrest of some officials of the Accra Central MTTU for extorting money from drivers, Mr Quantson, who is also a retired Commissioner of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), said posting to the MTTU on a permanent basis should be stopped and discouraged.
He said there had been instances when personnel were posted to the MTTU as constables or corporals and retired as chief superintendents or higher.
He said police personnel should be posted there for a specified period and then sent out to perform other police duties as part of a fundamental review of the unit to ensure discipline and stem the tide of corruption there.
“If this is done progressively, it can minimise this open tendency to extort money on the roads,” he noted.
Mr Quantson expressed regret that previous Police Administrations had found it extremely difficult to undertake any reforms at the MTTU.
He, therefore, called on the current Inspector-General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, to muster courage and the will to effect the needed reforms at the MTTU countrywide.
“The MTTU should not be a permanent duty post for any police officer or for all police officers,” he added.
Mr Quantson, who is also a former Director of the Bureau of National Investigations, said the immediate response of the IGP to the complaint typified that sort of healthy and productive bonding between the people and the police “and this is highly commendable”.
According to him, the public saw something going wrong and they reacted responsibly by reporting to the police, noting that the police also responded promptly in arresting those involved in the criminal act.
“This is something that should be encouraged because it is the only way to ensure not only police accountability but also public responsibility,” he stated.
Mr Quantson noted that that was not the first time that such a situation had arisen, pointing out that “there have been instances in the last 25 years or more when action has been taken against rogue policemen for always disgracing the service by collecting these bribes”.
He said what happened was not an isolated case, as there had been complaints of extortion on roads and highways all over the country.
Mr Quaye ordered the arrest of four officials of the Accra Central MTTU on January 27, 2010 for allegedly extorting money from motorists around the Achimota Overhead Bridge.
An amount of GH¢196 was retrieved from them when they were searched on the spot by the arresting team from the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) Bureau.
Those arrested were Inspector Joseph Karikari, Sergeant Anthony Nyarko and Lance Corporals George Rockson and Daniel Yemoh.