Beyond the Badge: Margaret Kase’s Dual Life as a Policewoman and Devoted Mother Inspires Awe

By Sarah Brou

Lance Corporal Margaret Kase is a Level 400 student of African University College of Communications, AUCC, specializing in Development Communication. Despite the demands that this specialization makes on her, Margaret also doubles as a mother of three children, and a full-time member of the Rapid Response Unit of the Ghana Police Service. The former Upper East Regional Beauty Queen sat down with me last week to discuss her journey so far. Following are excerpts from the conversation.

Sarah Brou: I don’t know much about your background,  can tell me more About,?

Margaret Kase: I am woman in my early 40s, married with three children – two boys and a girl. I come from a family of seven, including my parents. I have four brothers. I come from Sandema in the Upper East Region of Ghana. I am a Police officer; I am a woman of God; I have an NGO, and I am a university student.

SB: Can you tell me about your day job as a police officer?

MK: As a Lance Corporal in the Police Service, I am the first point of contact whenever a person has a problem and needs urgent Police attention. I am a VISIBILITY OFFICER at the Regional Visibility Unit at the Accra Regional Headquarters.

SB: This is no easy work: why did you choose to join the police?

MK: I chose to be a Police officer because I was personally robbed by two armed men in my house when I was a civilian and I did not like the way the Police Investigator handled my case. And so, I took a vow to join the Service to help fight crime. And it happened.

SB: What is a typical day at work for you like?

MK: My day at work is very risky. I can encounter armed men who may attack people or me. My normal day is full of people reporting to me for various crimes done to them, like stealing of their property, like mobile phones, handbags, threats, assaults…Many times, people are dying in my arms.

I handle these issues by reporting to the headquarters for backup and also arrange the dead body to be taken to the mortuary et cetera.

I sometimes also track suspects and make arrests too.

SB: You are a final year student at AUCC: how do you manage school and your job?

MK: Managing my job and school is not an easy task, but I do that by reporting to work in the morning, and then changing my uniform when I get home, and then coming to school, then going home after. Sometimes, I have to sneak from work to school as the time schedule clashes with my lecture period. Some times, during exams time, I have to skip work to come write and return to work.  It’s very risky but I have no choice.

SB: You are beautiful as you are brave. How do you combine job, school and your duty as a mother?

MK: It’s not easy. I have to give my baby to my next door neighbour to take care of so I can go to work. I stay over at work till lecture period, then I go to class, then go home to take care of my baby, husband, and children by helping them do their homework, prepare their meal for the next day, all before I go to bed.

SB: Do your children ever complain of your absence? How so they react to your heavy work schedule?

MK: Well, they sometimes do complain when it’s a public holiday or special day like a birthday and I have to be at work. And they miss me when I have to travel for weeks, but they understand that, that’s what pays their fees and buys the birthday cakes😀

SB: What is your strengths as a women in uniform?

MK: Hmmm! My strengths as a woman in uniform is the fact that everyone – no matter their status in society – all respect and appreciate my work. You see people smiling and happy after I’m done handling their cases.

SB: Do you ever feel like giving up?

MK: Oh yes. I do sometimes, because, when I see people die in accidents, people being put in jail and I am not able to help them, it breaks me down mentally, emotionally and psychologically.

And also, when I am so tired and need rest and won’t be given time to stay home to rest, I feel like quitting.

SB: Do you consider any part of your life as a failure? And if you had opportunities to change anything, what will you put there do?

MK: The part of my life I consider a failure is not furthering my education early when I had the chance. I kept giving excuses, and now that I am in my old age, I am now struggling to do my first degree. I would have been done with my Ph.D. by now. If I have the opportunity to do it all over again, I would have done that before anything else.

SB: Do your family and friends value what you do?

MK: O yes. Everyone in my family does.

SB: So far, what has been the biggest award you’ve won in your life?

MK: Hmmm, I won a beauty contest some years ago. On January 1, 2000. I was crowned a beauty queen in Upper East Region. I have also received certificates for philanthropic work I did, and in school for positions I held.

SB: Thank you so much, my brave and sweet woman” may God guide you for ever and ever.

MK: Amen. You are most definitely welcome.