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The Ghana Police Service has stated that it will no longer display faces of suspects who are yet to be convicted.
According to the service, the decision is to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism in all policing endeavours.
It said in a statement that the faces and identities of suspects shall be displayed only when “the suspects are properly convicted before a competent court of law.”
The law enforcement agency stressed that, suspects will have their faces and other physical attributes published for purposes of identification, arrest and prosecution when they are declared wanted by the courts with a warrant of arrest for various offences.
They added that, covering the faces of suspects to announce their arrest and lawful detention will enable “assuage the fears of people who feel threatened by them.”
Below is the full statement
The Ghana Police Service is determined to become a world-class Police organisation and the best institution in the country, serving as a reference point in Africa and beyond.
To achieve this, the Service will have to demonstrate the highest level of professionalism in all policing endeavours.
In view of this, we have resolved to no longer show or display faces of suspects who are yet to be convicted.
The faces and identities of suspects shall be fully displayed only when the suspects are properly convicted before a competent court of law.
Also, suspects who are declared wanted by the courts with a warrant of arrest for various acts of offence, shall, where necessary, have their faces and other physical attributes published for purposes of identification, arrest and prosecution.
We shall, however, continue to display the covered faces of suspects to announce their arrest and lawful detention in order to assuage the fears of people who feel threatened by them.
We continue to urge the public to support us in our transformation efforts.
