Police Should be Made to Wear Body Cameras—Martin Kpebu

Private Ghanaian legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called for Ghana Police Officers to be outfitted with body cameras.

Speaking on The Key Points on TV3 Ghana on Saturday, July 12, 2025, Kpebu said the practice was necessary to curb some of the excesses officers become involved in while on duty.

He was speaking following the violent conduct of some police officers during the Ablekuma North election rerun, including assaulting some journalists and failing to keep law and order.

“Our police should be wearing bodycams. That one it would capture everything because it’s automatic and continuous if it’s working. And it’s backed up, so that if the television videos and the television cameras don’t capture everything, you always have the bodycams,” he said.

Kpebu said the previous police administration under former Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare attempted to secure a contract for body cams but were met with some resistance.

“Ghana Police under Dampare tried to get a contract on it, which led to some brouhaha. People have been reminding me that we should have a robust campaign for police to be using their bodycams because in other democracies they’re doing so, and it helps,” Kpebu said.

The Ablekuma North rerun election was marred by violence, with certain media personnel suffering attacks from police officers.

Agyekum Banahene, a GhOne TV journalist, was slapped by a police officer in a brazen display of police brutality.

Another journalist was pepper sprayed in the face in an incident at the Odorkor Methodist Church polling centre.

Analysis of Martin Kpebu’s call for body cams

Martin Kpebu is unequivocally right in that body cams are standard in any serious country across the world.

The job of a police officer is no doubt difficult, but they wield considerable power that can easily be abused by the wrong person.

Body cams ensure accountability that, in the end, protects citizens while also ensuring police officers carry out their jobs efficiently.

It’s a win-win for everyone.