Lawyer and political activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has praised the Ghana Police Service for its recent improvements in transparency and public communication, particularly in high-profile cases.
His comments, which focused on the importance of institutional reform and responsible leadership, have reignited the conversation about police accountability in Ghana.
Speaking on recent developments, Barker-Vormawor noted that public trust in law enforcement is reinforced when the police proactively engage with citizens through regular press briefings and timely updates on investigations.
He lauded the police for their role in two major cross-border operations, highlighting these efforts as examples of professionalism and effectiveness.
“I must say that I love when the Police do these press conferences and update the public on ongoing investigations, particularly high-profile ones. Big thumbs up to them for the smoothness in rescuing the kidnapped victims from all the way in Nigeria and the recent arrest from Togo.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
According to him, timely and transparent information-sharing is critical in shaping public perception and building institutional trust. “Information is a powerful tool. If you use it wisely, you can build institutional credibility.”
Barker-Vormawor also contrasted the current police leadership style with previous administrations, suggesting that today’s leaders are demonstrating a more team-oriented approach.
Without mentioning names, he criticized former police heads for prioritizing media visibility over real institutional reforms.
“The old one trained the cameras on himself, rather than the institutional work. He made himself the media darling, and thought the way to modern policing is to cover up rot and abuse through disinformation.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
He conveyed a positive view of the leadership approach of the current Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, highlighting his preference for staying out of the spotlight and instead giving visibility to other officers.
Barker-Vormawor regarded this shift as a commendable sign of strong and inclusive leadership, and encouraged Yohuno to maintain that direction. “He better continue well.”
Call For Structural Reform In Police Service
In addition, Oliver Barker-Vormawor maintained that while there have been improvements, significant work remains to strengthen police accountability.
He pointed out that deep-rooted structural issues, persistent misconduct, and recurring breaches of citizens’ rights still undermine the integrity of the police service.
To address these challenges, he advocated for comprehensive internal reforms and the strict enforcement of disciplinary actions.
“Too much unprofessional policing goes on unchecked. Too many rights violated. To lift the image of policing, we need more brazen internal discipline. Learn from the Military if you have to.”
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
Oliver Barker-Vormawor stressed that public confidence in the police is closely tied to the ethical conduct of its officers.
He argued that for Ghanaians to develop genuine trust in the service, they must view police personnel as individuals who uphold high moral standards and integrity in their daily duties.
To help achieve this, he proposed a stronger, more effective Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) Bureau—the unit responsible for internal oversight within the Ghana Police Service.
He believes revitalizing PIPS is crucial and suggested bolstering its capacity by deploying more undercover officers tasked specifically with investigating misconduct within the ranks.
In his view, this initiative should be supported through collaboration with national security agencies to identify and remove corrupt elements from the system.
Such reforms, he contended, would help cleanse the service of bad actors and move it toward a culture of transparency, accountability, and trustworthiness.
Barker-Vormawor was also critical of superficial displays of police modernization.
“You don’t need to hide a camera in the bush, get down and direct traffic, and pretend you did not know a camera was there for people to say the Police has modernized”.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor
He dismissed staged publicity stunts and urged a focus on long-term systems over short-lived performances. “Effective Policing is systems, not settings.”
Barker-Vormawor’s remarks add a nuanced voice to the national conversation on police reform. His perspective bridges the gap between public praise for recent operational successes and an activist’s insistence on long-term structural change.
As the Ghana Police Service continues efforts to modernize and professionalize its operations, calls for transparency, discipline, and genuine police accountability are likely to remain at the center of public discourse.
