Beyond the Uniform: What Policemen Wish the Public Knew

By Felix

Accra, Ghana — The siren fades into the distance. A young officer steps out of his patrol car, wipes the sweat from his brow, and greets the street vendor by name. It’s not a chase today. It’s community patrol. Sergeant Kwaku Amoako, 36, has worn the uniform for 14 years — and he says most people still don’t know what his job really involves.

“They think we’re just here to harass,” he says quietly. “But we’re human too. We have families. We feel fear. We make tough calls.”

The Thin Blue Line: Misunderstood and Overlooked

Ghana’s police officers are among the most visible figures in public life — and often, the most criticized. Accusations of corruption, delay in response, and brutality regularly dominate public discourse. But behind the scenes, the daily life of a Ghanaian police officer tells a more complex story.

“I’ve been insulted by civilians while arresting someone armed,” says Constable Lydia Asiedu of the Kumasi Metro Division. “They didn’t know he had a weapon. But to them, I was the villain.”

A Job of Many Roles

Most officers don’t just chase criminals. On any given day, they also serve as:

First responders at accident scenes
Conflict mediators in domestic disputes
Informal social workers, especially in rural or low-resource areas
Security advisors to private businesses and individuals

“Last week I helped a woman find her lost child at Kaneshie,” says Sergeant Amoako. “We didn’t write a report. But that was just as important.”

The Stress Behind the Badge

Police work in Ghana is not for the faint of heart:

Long, unpredictable shifts that stretch into 24-hour cycles
Limited resources — radios that don’t work, patrol cars with no fuel
Understaffed stations where a handful of officers must cover entire districts
Constant mental and emotional strain

According to a 2023 internal assessment, more than 60% of officers report signs of burnout or untreated trauma.

“People expect us to be superheroes,” says Lydia. “But we go home exhausted — sometimes crying.”

Public Perception: Mistrust and Misunderstanding

A 2022 Afrobarometer survey showed that while over 70% of Ghanaians believe the police play a critical role, only 28% trust them completely.

Why?

Reports of bribery and extortion
Viral videos of rough arrests or violent crackdowns
Frustration over slow responses to complaints
Allegations of partiality or political bias

But officers say the public often doesn’t see the challenges they face within the system.

“Do you know how many times we buy fuel with our own money to chase a suspect?” Amoako asks. “We use our personal phones for investigations.”

Gender in Uniform: The Silent Strength of Female Officers

For women in the Ghana Police Service, the job has extra hurdles:

Sexual harassment, sometimes from civilians and superiors
Balancing family duties and field work
Stereotypes that view them as less capable in combat or command roles

Yet many female officers excel in community policing, victim support units, and intelligence roles.

“I’ve helped women escape abuse and find legal help,” says Lydia. “That’s what motivates me.”

Reform from Within

Recognizing these challenges, the Ghana Police Service has made efforts to reform:

Launching the Police Transformation Agenda to improve professionalism
Rolling out community policing units to rebuild trust
Expanding digital reporting systems for faster complaint tracking
Introducing mental health support through in-house counseling

Still, implementation remains patchy, and public skepticism is slow to shift.

What Officers Wish You Knew

In dozens of interviews conducted across the country, officers consistently voiced a few key wishes:

“See us as people first.” Officers are parents, siblings, neighbors — not just uniforms.
“Not every encounter is hostile.” Many officers want to help, but fear aggressive reactions.
“Corruption isn’t universal.” While bad apples exist, many officers do their jobs honestly.
“We need support too.” From better equipment to mental health help, officers often feel neglected.

Building Better Bridges

Experts agree that mutual respect is key.

Civilians should report abuse but also recognize good policing
Police officers must uphold rights and dignity, even under stress
Training in communication and de-escalation must be prioritized
Community forums and joint neighborhood projects can foster trust

“There’s bad in every profession,” Lydia says. “But when people stop seeing us as enemies, we all win.”

Final Thought

Policing in Ghana is a hard job made harder by public distrust and systemic gaps. But beneath the uniform are men and women trying to hold society together — often with little thanks and even less support.

So the next time you see an officer directing traffic in the rain, helping a lost child, or breaking up a fight — look past the badge. You might see a human being just trying to make it through the day.

“I don’t expect applause,” Amoako says. “Just understanding.”