The Bono Regional Police Command has interdicted some of its officers who were caught taking bribes in a viral video from motorists.

In a statement shared by the Ghana Police Service and signed by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, the officers involved have been identified to assist with investigation.

"The Bono Regional Police Command has initiated an investigation into a video circulating on social media that shows some police officers allegedly taking money from motorists. The officers involved have been identified and interdicted to allow for a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident," the statement dated October 29 indicated.

The Command has therefore assured the public of its commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and accountability among its personnel.

During the first quarter of the year, President John Dramani Mahama stressed the need for urgent reforms to eliminate corruption within the Ghana Police Service, emphasizing that transparency and accountability must be at the core of law enforcement.

Speaking at the Jubilee House on Friday, March 14, during the swearing-in ceremony of Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mahama underscored how corruption erodes public trust and weakens the justice system.

He highlighted that maintaining integrity within the police service is essential for enforcing the rule of law and safeguarding national security.

“Mr IGP, your duty extends beyond maintaining law and order; it also involves eliminating corruption from the service,” he stated.

He warned that corruption among law enforcement officers diminishes confidence in the police, making it difficult to uphold justice and combat crime effectively.

To counter these challenges, Mahama called on IGP Yohuno to take decisive action against unethical conduct, including bribery and abuse of power, to restore credibility to the service.

He insisted that corruption at all levels must be met with strict enforcement measures and accountability.

“It is imperative that officers at all ranks are held to the highest ethical standards, and any form of malpractice, from bribery to abuse of power, must be swiftly and decisively addressed,” he asserted.

Mahama expressed his belief that under Yohuno’s leadership, the police service would undergo much-needed reforms, ensuring that the institution regains the full confidence and respect of the Ghanaian public.

In 2022, a survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service with other stakeholders in the fight against corruption ranked the Ghana Police Service as the most corrupt institution among 23 other institutions sampled.

This was revealed in a research dubbed; corruption in Ghana, People's Experiences and View.

The aim of the survey was to unearth corrupt institutions and make available data that will guide the formulation of policies that will look at nipping corruption in the bud.

The survey indicated that more than 17.4 million bribes were paid in 2021 with police officers topping the list of officials who take bribes at 53.2%.

The Ghana Immigration Service Officers and GRA customs officers come next, at 37.4% and 33.6% respectively, while elected government representatives are at the bottom of the list at 2.9%.

According to the survey, people with the highest level of (tertiary) education were 1.6 times more likely to have paid a bribe than people with no formal education.

Also, ten out of the 16 administrative regions recorded a prevalence of bribery higher than the national average.

There are, however, sizable variations across the 16 regions of the country.

The prevalence of bribery in the Bono East, Savannah and Volta regions, for example, is substantially lower than the national rate, at 11.8, 14.5 and 19.1 per cent, respectively.

Also in the Western North, Ahafo and North East regions, bribery is substantially higher, at 53.4, 47.0 and 41.9 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Ghana Police Service have reaffirmed their commitment to working closely in the fight against corruption following a high-level engagement between their respective leaderships on Thursday, 8 May.

Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, in what marked their first formal interaction since the IGP’s assumption of office.

The visit aimed to strengthen ties and enhance coordinated law enforcement efforts between the two key state institutions.

During the meeting, Mr. Agyebeng emphasized the necessity of institutional synergy, stressing that while the OSP holds independent investigative and prosecutorial authority under Act 959, collaboration with the Police Service remains central to advancing its nationwide anti-corruption efforts. He highlighted the importance of tapping into the Police Service’s broad presence across the country to boost the reach and efficiency of the OSP’s mandate.

Inspector-General Yohuno expressed full support for the renewed partnership, pledging the Police Service’s dedication to aiding the OSP in rooting out corruption. He acknowledged that addressing corruption effectively requires a unified and strategic approach among state agencies and called for continuous cooperation, especially in intelligence gathering and sharing.

Senior Police officers who participated in the meeting commended the OSP for its persistent pursuit of accountability and transparency in public life. They reaffirmed their interest in promoting closer institutional collaboration to combat corruption and related offenses.

The Special Prosecutor was joined by Mr. Emmanuel Basintale, Director of Investigations at the OSP. Receiving them were several top police officials, including COP Iddi Lansah Seidu, COP Ernest Owusu, COP Okyere Darko Asumadu, and DCOP Kofi Blagodzie.

The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to intensify joint efforts aimed at fostering integrity and strengthening rule of law across Ghana.