Security analyst Samuel Nana Appiah has criticised the present police administration, led by Inspector General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, for centralising its public relations directorate.
Mr. Appiah posits that the most effective approach for the police to communicate is to decentralise its Public Relations Directorate.
He averred that it cannot be effective for the police to centralise their communication since it could breed misinformation and false news surrounding cases.
He made the remarks in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM.
He said this is one of the reasons why critics of the IGP have always questioned his leadership style.
“These are some of the issues making some people question and criticise the leadership style of the IGP. The Police Administration had taken a decision to decentralise its communication. There is supposed to be a regional PRO for the police, and to some extent, this should extend to the divisional and district levels so that communication will flow smoothly.
“Based on my professional experience as a security analyst, if it were to be centralised at the regional level, I would not have had a problem. But the centralised form of PR deployed by the police raises a lot of concerns. I disagree with them over this. Because if an issue occurs in Tamale, Takoradi, or Sunyani and the Sunyani Police Commander cannot speak to it or issue a statement to confirm or deny it, by the time the police head office issues a statement, there will be rumours, misinformation, and conjecture thrown into the public, and this will affect effective policing.
Communication is part of the proactive measures that make education and information work effortlessly in the police and ensure stability. I must be frank with you and say that the centralised system of communication in the police today is one of their weakest links, and the IGP must take a relook at it. It is not in the interest of the police to centralise its communication,” he told host Kwabena Agyapong.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
