The Ghana Police Service and the dilemma of a politically polarised system

This study examines the politicisation of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), focusing on accusations of bias from opposition parties. It employed a qualitative design to explore the impact of political partisanship on the GPS. Conducted across Ghana’s sixteen regions, the study purposively selected forty-three (43) participants, including active and retired police officers, political analysts, policy stakeholders, security analysts, and citizens, ensuring broad geographic and socio-political representation. Snowball sampling complemented this approach to reach additional participants, particularly retired officers and citizens. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and analysed thematically to identify key patterns. The findings reveal, firstly, the profound dilemma faced by the GPS as it struggles to maintain professional neutrality amid intense political interference. Secondly, this interference significantly undermines the GPS’s impartiality, professionalism, and public trust, especially during elections. Thirdly, political patronage permeates recruitment, promotions, and law enforcement practices, thereby perpetuating a cycle of mistrust between political parties and the police. Consequently, the study recommends constitutional reforms to guarantee police autonomy, merit-based recruitment, and strengthened oversight mechanisms to shield the service from political interference, thereby restoring professionalism, impartiality, and independence, while enhancing public confidence and operational effectiveness.