Police-Military must co-operate

National security depends on the collective effort of all stakeholders and players.

It is not just the police or military that are responsible for keeping security and peace in the country. Both the military and police have a major role to play in this regard.

The police have a specific role to play in maintaining law and order but the military ensure the defence of the nation.

Each of these institutions needs to collaborate with the other so that the image and interests of the State can be enhanced. It is, therefore, unfortunate that from time to time, these two institutions are found in disagreement or in dispute with each other.  The top military officers as well as top police personnel respect one another and have always collaborated in a way that helps to promote the interest of the State.

The problem has always been presumably with the lower ranks who go on operations in various parts of the country. The recent skirmish between the police and the military at Kumasi Magazine is a case in point. The incident, unfortunate as it is, constitutes a big shame and disgrace to the entire country.

Some military personnel consider themselves above the law, so when it comes to the behaviour or misbehaviour of their personnel, they find it difficult to subject them to law and order in line with police supervision.

Even if police personnel are also found to break the law, they are to be reported to the respective superior officers of the two institutions for action to be taken.

This means that any aggrieved police personnel who are unhappy with the misbehaviour of any military personnel, the issue would have to be reported to the relevant military command. In the same way, any unhappy military personnel who are unhappy about a specific police misbehaviour should also report such incident to the relevant police command.

It is, therefore, wrong for any personnel belonging to any of the two institutions to take the law into their own hands and misbehave, as has been the case from time to time.

The two institutions stand for discipline and must set good examples to the rest of society. Fighting amongst themselves and later setting up investigations into their conduct or misconduct is something that should not be entertained or encouraged at any time. If this is the case, then any person or group of people found culpable ought to be severely dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others.

No one is above the law, so it is wrong for personnel of these two security establishments to fight, create chaos and expect society to look on unconcerned.

When such incidents happen, those found culpable ought to bow their heads in shame, as measures are taken to discipline them. The discipline must be severe to deter others from resorting to such shameful conduct.

Also, from time to time, the two institutions would have to collaborate with each other in the sharing of experiences in external operations as well as internal duties. In the same way, personnel from each of the two institutions must give lectures on the respective roles of each of them to deepen better understanding.

They have to see each other as the same and be prepared to work together. The police and the military ought to be encouraged in this direction, so that their personnel can maximise efforts towards peacekeeping as well as maintenance of law and order in different parts of the country.

This is what we need to ensure total peace between the police and the military in this our dear motherland.