The Moment Of Truth: An Encounter With The Ashanti Regional Police Buffalo Unit

Perception is a very dangerous weapon that can derail the truth and facts about the realities of life. The Police Institution as a whole carries a lot of baggage which prevent people from finding favor with them since it is consistently undermined by certain corrupt and dangerous elements whose alliance with the institution is to use it as a consulting body to siphon money from innocent people. A case in point is the Police Buffalo Unit of the Ashanti Region Police Service whose quality of service dignifies honesty, humility, objectivity, reformation and fundamental fairness. As lethal as they are, they still have in them what it takes to be identify as MEN OF HONOUR.

The Buffalo Unit is part of the Ashanti Regional Police Force with special assignment to protect life and property. The leadership of this unit D.S.P. Rev Nana Adane-Ameyaw and his deputy DSP James Owusu demonstrate exemplary qualities of service to the citizenry and humanity in general. They are the special ones whose methodology of service inject sanity into the police service and create room for certain concerned people like me to believe that the future can be good. Although, the whole setup is not perfect with little rough edges, it still has the potential to be the best in terms of job execution.

The Commander of the buffalo unit and his deputy are not just good policemen but men of God. They are real ministers of the faith whose persona reflects what they preach. They use the fundamental principles of right and wrong as bases of their work ethics and truth is the key in their judgment notwithstanding one’s status. In the arena of the commander’s domain, it pays to speak the truth, seek genuine remorse and you will find favor with them depending on the magnitude of the offence. On the contrarily, to attempt to perpetuate lies and display hardiness and will attract the roughness and physical power of the unit.

At the Buffalo Unit, truth and objectivity is the key. Whether, you are the victor or loser in a case, you will leaner to respect and admire their judgment which lingers on rules of engagement: - the law, ethics and fundamental fairness. In the end, it is nothing but the truth which most of us abhor since we are structured to using the law enforcement agency to intimidate and advance our own personal aggrandizement.

In addition to its special mandate to protect life and property, they perform one special function which deserves one’s recognition and admiration, reform people. They take time to explain the nature of the offence and it effects. Consequently, all participants in the case are schooled:- the complainants, defendants and sympathizers. Their services define civility yet they are rigid in their pursuit for the truth which is an indelible mark of excellence. The issue which took me to the Buffalo Unit was simple and yet complex in nature; my ward spent three days in cells before a bail could be granted and I was convinced be him that she(my ward) deserve to be there(although, it was a holiday, the need to reform her was the key here).

One thing that beats my imagination is the composition of the leadership team of the Buffalo

Unit. Whether by design or accident both the Commanding Officer and his deputy are men of God. I mean, Ministers of the faith who practice what they preach on the pulpit. At first, I sensed an element of contradiction with the roles of the Commanding Officer, first as a Police Officer and secondly, as a Reverend of the Apostolic Church vis-à-vis my perception about the normal police man in today’s Ghana. Little did I know that in God’s own way, everything is possible. They use wisdom in the word, conflict resolution management process and the law to reform people who otherwise have landed in jail to be fed by the government which is phenomenal. My kudus to the leadership of the Police Force Pual Tawiah Quaye for his drive, ingenuity and creativity in establishing a functioning department which is respected by the community.

The whole buffalo Unit in not perfect like all other institutions. Notwithstanding the fact that they have very shrewd and energetic leadership, they still have among them few sharks who behave like the normal police man. It is just obvious from my observation that some of the junior staff need a real gust talk to compliment the efforts made so far in making the unit one of the most remarkable setups within the Police Institution in the Ashanti Region. It is therefore the responsibility of the Commanding Officer to continue to ensure that the character of the overall unit represent the true character of his leadership. I know that it is not going to be easy but with God on his side and prayers, he can succeed.

Currently, the government has embarked on a decent pay structure for the police service that elevates them to a high level in our society. What reason do some of our men in uniform have to perpetuate their evil crime of exploitation? Many people in the service use the institution as a consulting place to amass wealth. Whether it is a myth or reality, people believe that most cases do not travel the usual length because our men in uniform do collect monies from both the complainant and the defendant. In certain locations, the police structure refuses to be a SERVICE institution; you have to pay money as a complainant to have your case attended to and the frustration thereon sometimes makes you feel like abandoning the case. However, I am glad that the Buffalo Unit exists to create a difference.

Our dear nation called Ghana is in crises. Greed, vindictiveness and selfishness have assumed a new dimension in our socio-economic life. The attributes of goodness and sacrifice have no relevance any longer in our institution and it is all about ‘ each one for himself , God for us all’. Naturally, it is always exciting to identify one good story wealthy of praise and emulation to write about. A case in point is the Buffalo Unit of the Ashanti Police Force whose exceptional leadership style creates hope that one day we shall have a transformed police institution ready to be of SERVICE to our dear nation and its citizenry. God save our dear nation called GHANA.

ERIC EDUSEI A ONE REALTY, VA Eric123946@yahoo.com