Akua Amoakowaa, the former spouse of Dr. Kwaku Oteng, has expressed concerns regarding the inappropriate use of the police force by affluent individuals in Ghana to unlawfully serve their personal interests.
She contends that wealthy individuals, in their pursuit of recovering debts, manipulate the police force to unlawfully apprehend and incarcerate debtors.
While refraining from divulging specific names, the ex-wife of the Angel Group of Companies founder highlighted that although the primary responsibility of the police is to apprehend and prosecute offenders, there is no constitutional provision authorizing the arrest and overnight detention of debtors.
Taking to Instagram, she conveyed her message through a series of posts, tagging the Ghana Police Service.
“Some affluent individuals in this country are employing certain police officers to intimidate and humiliate less privileged people. The fundamental mandate of the Ghana police service is to apprehend and prosecute offenders, maintain law and order, and protect life and property.
“I haven’t found any clause in the constitution or article that allows a person to be detained overnight for owing money. I implore the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to educate officers who are being used as debt collectors to defer such matters to the judiciary, especially if the debt was not acquired through fraudulent means.
“Owing someone is a civil matter, not a criminal one. The underprivileged should have a voice in the country. I seldom bring my issues to social media, but this time, Adonko Company Ltd ………”
Sally, a private legal practitioner, took the opportunity to educate the public on the legal aspects of debt collection, emphasizing that such issues fall under civil law.
Consequently, they should not be treated as criminal cases, leading the police to act as ‘debt collectors’ or to detain debtors in cells overnight or for extended periods forcibly.
