The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has underscored that the hallmark of effective law enforcement is the ability to prevent crime before it happens, rather than responding after harm has already been caused.
He noted that societies must prioritise shared values, discipline, and cultural responsibility as the first line of defence against criminal activity.
“The greatest victory of law enforcement is prevention, and prevention begins long before police sirens sound,” Otumfuo stated.
He made these remarks while delivering a keynote address during a visit to the Ghana Police Service Headquarters in Accra on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II cautioned that law and culture cannot operate in isolation, explaining that culture loses its relevance when separated from the law, while the law becomes weak when it lacks cultural grounding.
“Culture without law becomes nostalgia, beautiful stories with no teeth. Law without culture becomes force, effective but brittle. One shapes the heart, the other restrains the hand,” he said.
According to the Asantehene, a society that focuses solely on punishment without nurturing moral values only delays disorder. He explained that the essence of culture is to discourage wrongdoing long before it attracts legal sanctions.
“Custom was never designed to protect criminals; it was designed to prevent crime,” he added, stressing that authentic tradition complements justice rather than competes with it.
Otumfuo also praised Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno, noting that although he assumed office at a time of high public expectations and limited patience, his leadership impact was already evident.
“Within this short period, the impact of leadership has been felt. We see calm authority and professionalism, which are essential elements in law enforcement,” he said.
He further observed that the stability of societies is determined not by the number of laws they enact, but by the strength of their shared values.
“The alignment of cultural values with the values of law should be the first step towards crime prevention,” Otumfuo stated.
“Tradition and modern law enforcement are not rivals struggling for relevance; they are collaborators safeguarding the same future.”
He added that when traditional authority works in harmony with legal authority, communities become more stable, and when the police respect local customs, public cooperation improves, leaving little room for crime to thrive.
