Friday, January 16, 2009

Police Parasites in the City of Accra

I resent myself that I suffer myself to be bullied and bilked every night by the police at the checkpoints to give them money. It’s not that I flout the regulations or anything. They just get you to roll down; they see your young ... ish face, and then, they ‘pounce’ on you. They ask you how was work. They stretch out their arms unbidden, into your car and shake hands with you. Then, they ask you for a present for the closest doggone calendar event (past, present or future). Christmas, Easter, Eid, a Black-Stars win – or draw ;-) – etc. “Can I get my present for Prez Mills’s inauguration? Oh, won’t you make it double; Obama’s is just around the corner?!” I expect a fully-brawned-up cop to ask me for HIS Valentine’s Day present any day now! Eeek! Then, because they have condescended to shake hands with you, the familiarity obliges you to give them the money, even if the smallest note you have is by no means small.

16 comments:

  1. hahaha, they do it to me too. Even when you say you don't have anything, they ask you to bo modzen (try)

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  2. You are a tough one, therefore, I feel better about my weakness.

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  3. Yup! The phenomenon of law-enforcement officers demanding gifts for all occasions is rife in our dear land.
    When I had the house-call from the local chapter of the Machete Wielding Thieves Assocation of Ghana(MWTAG) last year...the CID man who brought a 4-person finger-printing crew (actually...I had to pick them up and drop 'em off at the police headquarters) asked if it was possible to arrange "breakfast" for the crew. When I started looking for bread and tea he gently told me that that he was thinking more in terms of breakfast that came as paper in different colours with the Big six all over. It was like being robbed twice.

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  4. Awwww, you poor thing. And to think that after 'breakfast' the did not find the members of the MWTAG...or did they?

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  5. *LOL*...I did not bother to follow up with the Ghana Police "Service" because:
    A. Was afraid about asked to provide more breastfast plus lunch, dinner and christmas boxes

    B. was wondering which finger-print database they were going to be comparing the prints they lifted to...completely futile.

    Alas, the members of the MWTAG are still roaming free...I'm sure they are area-men (note: I did not say "area-boys" coz those guys they grow past boys paahh!)

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  6. valentine day gift???

    with GH police; i won't be surprised man!

    we got a lon...lon way to go!

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  7. Oh Nana Yaw (and the rest of you) how can you not know the tricks by now.
    Option 1: Blast the BBC radio station at such a loud volume they'll have to scream their begging pleas (no police man is that daring, and because it's BBC they can't accuse you of being a rowdy teenager, you're just a serious person with a hearing problem), with your windows rolled down no more than two inches. The whole act tells them before you've even stopped that you're NOT in the mood to give money.

    Option 2 (Ghana Bar Association sticker owners only): Say "Officer, as much as I would like to give you something, because of my profession I am restricted from making any unofficial donations to you, I hope you understand."
    This is even more effective if you've done something wrong like driven the wrong direction down a one-way road.

    I tell you, I can't remember the last time I gave money, apart from to those at my local junction that I actually like and chat to (and they never ask!).

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  8. Eye opening and slightly scary post - thanks for sharing..!
    I'm planning on coming over so at least, I'm warned - things haven't changed much at all in 20/30 years..:)

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  9. Seriously, Aby, you cannot be careful enough! Take care.

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  10. Yes, Novisi, the way is long - and we are not even moving yet!

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  11. Gee, thanks, Maya. But for some reason, I think I will apply option 1 and leave option 2 for a very 'blue moon'.

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  12. Here, there...it is not really scary. You are always aware that you can refuse. Somehow, you become so used to it that you just do not want to let them down (I can't believe I just wrote that.) Such resignation from a rebel like me! (I need new lessons from Maya!)

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  13. Nana Yaw--insightful post; did anyone tell you how useful the accelerator is -- especially at night? ;-D

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  14. Yes, Emmanuel I have heard of the accelerator. But I have also heard of a bullet in the back of the head :-)

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  15. hi Nana,
    today i'm feeling too jolly and i think my first comment sounds like i was too serious... i didn't mean to!

    i mean gh police should always make me give a crack of "LAFTA"...

    meanwhile...Abena has a word in her second comment that thankfully did not escape my ecstatic-attention.... and it's right there: "breastfast" .... and that's just well rounded...

    @Abena, i know it's a typo so pls pardon my nonsense... hehehehehe!

    cheers to all!

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  16. Yeah, Novisi, this is the year of laughter. What is your phone number?

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