Lesson Learned

By: Corey Stewart

December 5, 2013

My experience in Ghana was tainted after I became the victim of a dorm robbery in late October. While asleep, an unknown thief entered our room and stole a number of electronic devices and a decent sum of money. Although I do not consider myself attached to my electronic devices, it was nonetheless a setback for me as I continue with my academic pursuits. Upon recognizing that I had indeed lost several of my belongings, I followed the typical modes of action in an attempt to reclaim my items. First were the porters who are stationed at the front desk twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. These rotating positions ensure that unwelcome outsiders do not infiltrate the building. To my disappointment, the porters were not on duty because they were on strike. The resident assistant who was filling in for the porter was asleep behind the desk. It goes without saying that she was of little assistance.

Jump forward one week, and the tracking software that I had on my stolen laptop had sent a notification to my email address that the laptop was located to a pinpoint on a map of Accra. Better yet, the notification included a snapshot of the person who turned on the computer, the music they were listening to, and all of the programs that they were running. Feeling hopeful after this new lead, I called the investigator whose number I had been provided and rushed to the police station. Once I arrived, the investigator was upset that I had disturbed her 3:30 pm slumber, so she sent out a friend of hers. I showed the woman and several of the police officers the picture of the thief and all of the other information provided to me by the software. After waiting at the police station for forty minutes, we drove to the location. The location on the map provided from the software was in the middle of a myriad of small technology shops selling every type of electronic good. I watched from the vehicle as the officer walked aimlessly up and down the street. One hour later, he returned. No answers. No explanation. He did ensure me that if he had time the next day he would continue to look into the case. It has been one month and I have no new information.

The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana established the Police Service of Ghana along with the Police Council, which is chaired by the vice president. A number of other positions exist within the force to ensure that order is maintained. This effort to curb crime proved difficult when the police force itself became infested with corruption. Positions are granted through nepotism and preferential treatment is given to those who will uphold the old-boy network. Even at the highest levels, law enforcement officials can be bribed to disregard the law. Foreigners are chiefly the targets of extortion. In some situations, foreign victims of crime are left helpless because those employed to enforce the law are the perpetrators. Even United States diplomats are powerless in situations in which police officers wrongly accuse them of a crime. In these situations, the least burdensome solution is to act cooperatively and to pay the officer an agreed upon amount.

This rendezvous was certainly irritating, but it taught me more than I could have possible imagined. First, that in every country, bureaucratic entanglements are commonplace. Second, that in Ghana, that the only way to get meaningful assistance from the police is by paying them off. My eyes were opened to broader racial hostilities that exist in Ghana, seeing as on more than one occasion I heard police officers claim that Nigerians were likely responsible. These claims, however, were made without basis. More than anything, the experience spoke to the larger issue of corruption and inefficiency in Ghana. Significant investment in infrastructure and law enforcement are necessary for the stability of any country. Resource constraints and institutional inefficiencies stint improvements on this front, but the continual economic growth in Ghana put it on a trajectory for more investment in law enforcement. Ghana is already a leader both economically and politically for Western Africa, and in due time it will surely see a decline in crime rates.

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