THE FAMILY SPREE

My uncle, Mr. Kwesi Brown, a retired police personnel of the Ghana Police Service, was always my source of motivation. Be it education, marriage, career objective or social. In fact, he was the main source of every step I’ve ever taken in life. He had a gargantuan impact on my life.

Whenever he went for peace keeping in other countries, he returned with some foreign chocolates, drinks, cosmetics and most importantly a lot of money. I just had mixed feelings whenever he went on such missions because even though I was always scared he may never come back, I was happy at the same time because of the goodies he returned with.

Uncle Cee, as I used to call him, never went a day without telling me about the Ghana Police Service. He always said, “The Ghana police service is a very superior service unit in the country that must not be overlooked at all. The police service has been in existence since colonial rule and we have as our hallmark, against all odds, to protect this country. Thus, the peace we enjoy today”.

I had an itchy ear and just loved to hear stories about the police service. They made me feel important and boosted my morale of serving this country as a police woman. I wasn’t just like any other girl. I was a tom-boy due to my aggression to become a police officer. I most of the time wore Uncle Cee’s uniforms which swept the floor like a wedding gown and his beret which almost covered my eyes. His boots were so heavy to carry so I dared not wear them. Then I stand in front of the mirror of his wardrobe and begin to imitate him saying, “left-right, left-right……..atteeeeee –tion, stand at ease”. Then I make a big salute that makes me turn a 360 before gaining composure.

He never forgot to tell me the duties of the police personnel. I’d ask him, “Uncle Cee, what do the police do?” then he’d say, “We ensure the total security of this country as well as its protection and well-being. The Ghana Police Service protect life and property, prevent and detect crime, apprehend and prosecute offenders, preserve peace and order and have the due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which it is directly charged. Every day, policemen are charged to go on beat duties in town, at bungalows, traffic points, government installations and at other state properties”.

Even though I was so naïve and never understood most of the words and phrases he used, I just felt glad in my heart that I’d one day become a police woman. But my dreams began to fade away when Uncle Cee died in Libya in an accident. I still wanted to pursue the course to make him proud wherever he is however, the issue of bribery and corruption practiced by some undisciplined police personnel has diminished the respect and integrity of the service. Good name is indeed better than riches.

I’m now a journalist and also pursuing law at the Ghana School of Law. I’m married to a doctor and have three lovely children. Surprisingly, my first born is a police man and my second and last are with the Military Service.

Smiling right? Haha…….its indeed a “Family Spree”