A video shared from the United Kingdom has prompted questions about how differently law enforcement can be perceived and exercised in Ghana.
In the video, a police officer reportedly stopped individuals believed to be members of the UK military over an alleged mobile phone offence while driving.
What stood out to Kofi Badu was not necessarily the traffic offence itself, but the apparent willingness of the police officer to enforce the law regardless of the uniform or institution involved.
For Badu, the incident raised a much bigger question about Ghana: Do we apply the law equally to everyone, or does a person’s position and connections sometimes determine how they are treated?
When Your Identity Becomes More Important Than the Law
Badu argues that in Ghana, people sometimes want law enforcement officers to know who they are before the officer decides how to handle an alleged offence.
Being a member of the security services, politician, lawyer, judge, traditional leader, religious leader or government official can sometimes create expectations of preferential treatment.
He points to the stickers and symbols displayed on vehicles belonging to people associated with powerful institutions and argues that they can sometimes send an unintended message:
“I am not an ordinary Ghanaian. Handle me differently.”
Whether every such sticker is intended to communicate that message is another matter. But Badu’s broader concern is about the perception that certain people can receive different treatment because of their status.
And when citizens begin to believe that, trust in the rule of law suffers.
Are There Two Ghanas?
Imagine two people committing the same traffic offence.
One is an ordinary worker with no influential connections.
The other is a senior security officer, politician, lawyer, judge or other influential individual.
If the first person faces the full consequences while the second receives a phone call, warning or intervention because of who they are, then the issue goes beyond traffic enforcement.
It becomes a question of equality before the law.
Badu describes this as creating two versions of Ghana: one where the law is firmly applied to ordinary citizens and another where influence can soften its consequences.
That, he argues, is dangerous for the country’s development.
When Connections Become More Valuable Than Character
According to Badu, unequal enforcement can gradually change society’s understanding of success.
Instead of encouraging people to develop their skills, build character and contribute to society, it can create the perception that having the right connections is the real form of protection.
People begin to ask:
“Who do you know?”
“Can you call someone?”
“Do you know my boss?”
“Do you know who my father is?”
“Let me call Honourable.”
When such behaviour becomes normal, the authority of institutions begins to weaken.
Citizens may start believing that the best way to avoid consequences is not to obey the law, but to become connected to someone powerful.
Where Corruption Begins
Badu’s argument goes beyond politicians and senior officials.
He believes corruption can also begin through seemingly small acts of preferential treatment.
It can begin when an officer refuses to enforce a law because the offender is a colleague.
It can happen when someone uses a telephone call to prevent a relative from facing consequences that another citizen would have faced.
It can happen when an official vehicle is treated as though ordinary traffic rules do not apply.
These actions may appear insignificant individually, but collectively they can create a culture in which people believe that some citizens simply cannot be touched.
The Privilege Trap
One of the most interesting observations in Badu’s argument is that ordinary citizens can also become part of the problem.
People who complain about preferential treatment may seek exactly the same privilege once they become connected to someone powerful.
The system then reproduces itself.
A person who once complained about political influence may later use a political connection to escape a problem.
Someone who criticised security officers for using their influence may do the same thing when they acquire a powerful contact.
The result is a society where people do not necessarily want to eliminate privilege they simply want to have access to it.
Institutions Must Respect Each Other
Badu says the lesson from the video is not that the United Kingdom is perfect.
Rather, he believes the bigger lesson is about institutional strength.
A police officer should be able to perform a lawful duty without being intimidated by another person’s uniform or position.
A soldier should respect a police officer carrying out a legitimate responsibility.
A politician should respect the law.
A judge should respect the law.
A traditional leader should respect the law.
A religious leader should respect the law.
And the ordinary citizen should not need a powerful person’s telephone number to receive fair treatment.
Development Is Also About Institutions
Ghana’s development is often measured through roads, hospitals, schools, interchanges, businesses and other physical infrastructure.
But Badu argues that development is also about the strength of institutions.
A country cannot genuinely claim to have developed if ordinary citizens believe that the law applies differently depending on their social status.
A society cannot successfully demand discipline from ordinary citizens while allowing powerful people to negotiate their way around the same rules.
The rule of law becomes meaningful when it applies to everyone.
The Ghana We Should Build
The question, therefore, is not whether Ghana should copy another country’s system.
It is whether Ghana can build institutions strong enough to apply the law fairly.
The day a police officer can lawfully stop a powerful politician, senior military officer, judge, traditional leader or other influential person for a genuine traffic offence without worrying about their title or who might call afterward would represent an important step forward.
It would demonstrate something that no road, building or interchange can demonstrate on its own:
That Ghana’s institutions are stronger than individual connections.
Badu’s central message is ultimately simple.
Knowing who someone is should not determine whether the law applies to them.
The law should know no favourites.
And perhaps one of the clearest signs of a mature democracy is when citizens no longer need to ask, “Do you know who I am?” before expecting to be treated fairly.
This article is based on an opinion shared by Kofi Badu on Facebook.
