The immediate-past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, Most Reverend Titus Awotwi Pratt, has described the security services as “puppets” of the government and, thus, unable to fight crime.

According to Rev. Pratt, appointments in the security services, are not based on merits hence such appointees are unable to fight crime.

“Go to civilised countries, certain positions, people are there because of their merits not appointed by politicians, and the workers serve well. Look at our security agencies - puppets of the ruling government - and, so, they are not even able to open their mouths or arrest thieves who ride in public cars and are fed by the state,” he stated.

“People who earn more and better by way of salaries and fringe benefits, occupying official houses with chauffeur-driven cars, the benefit comes in thousands; they steal the most in the country,” he said.

Addressing the one-year anniversary thanksgiving service of the Consolidated Bank of Ghana in Accra, Rev Pratt also bemoaned the unfair penal system that imposes harsher prison terms on minor offenders as against politicians who loot state coffers.

“Go around the prisons, when we go around to give them communion and pray for them - they stole chicken, goats and they’ve been arrested. Some are on remand for years and yet those who openly steal and plunder walk our streets. What kind of society is this?” he quizzed.