When did the person start hiding? – Barker-Vormawor confronts police over Ghana Jollof
by Gabs · MyNewsGh.comLawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor has questioned the police decision to describe a Ghana Jollof figure as suspected to be hiding at Kotoka International Airport when, according to the police investigation cited by him, the person was already known to be living in the United Kingdom.
Barker-Vormawor said his concern was not about whether the police had a legitimate reason to investigate the activities of people associated with Ghana Jollof.
Rather, he questioned the manner in which the investigation was presented to the public, particularly the wanted notice issued by the police.
“The publication by the wanted notice that the police put up, that your own investigation has established that the person is in the UK,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile.
“It was not something that we were trying to figure out.”
Barker-Vormawor then questioned the description of the person as being suspected to be hiding.
“When did the person start hiding? The person is living in the UK,” he said.
He argued that such wording could undermine confidence in the professionalism of the police and create the impression that law enforcement was being used to serve political interests.
“Those kinds of content, when we do that, it doesn’t show professional police work,” he said.
“It just feeds into the general sense that you are doing work at the service of the regime.”
Barker-Vormawor stressed that criticising the police approach did not amount to opposing an investigation into Ghana Jollof-related activities.
“I am not saying that there is not a justified police interest in looking into the conduct and work of persons,” he said.
His argument was that the exercise of police powers should be measured by professionalism and the proper balance between investigating suspected offences and how such investigations are communicated to the public.
Source: MyNewsGh.com
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