On a busy street in Accra, a recent roadside encounter has reminded many on social media that empathy and authority can still coexist.
In a viral video shared on social media by local Ghanaian media outlet Ghana Web, a Ghanaian police officer stopped to check on a stranded motorist. However, after learning that the driver, Francis, had run out of fuel and money, the officer quietly transferred funds to help him continue his journey.
When asked by Francis why he chose to help him, the officer, who has not been named, replied, “You said you were short of fuel, so I had to support you.”
That comment has resonated with many social media users who have seen the viral video, sparking widespread reflection on the human side of law enforcement.
What made the moment even more impactful was what followed. Moved by the unexpected kindness, the driver offered the officer a bundle of cash in gratitude, leaving the policeman visibly shocked.
Continental effect
Across the continent, small, human encounters like this are helping redefine how many Africans see their police.
In Zambia, last February, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) honoured Detective Sergeant Ruth Nyambe for refusing a staggering $50,000 bribe at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
Attached to the Airports Division, Nyambe reportedly turned down the illicit offer after a suspect was found with $2.3 million in cash and seven suspected gold bars during routine screening. ACC Director-General Daphne Chabu honoured Nyambe with the agency's Integrity Award.
In Nigeria, last October, a different but equally moving scene unfolded on the Iseyin–Ibadan highway in October 2025.
A viral video showed three police officers—Tunmise, Daudu and Michael from Dugbe Police Station in Ibadan—helping a stranded commuter and his friend change a flat tyre after their car jack failed.
Motorists had driven past without stopping, but the patrol team did not hesitate. After fixing the tyre, the officers politely declined an appreciation gift of ₦3,000 offered by the grateful men. The refusal struck a chord online, with many Nigerians describing the gesture as rare, reassuring and deeply human.
“Good people still exist on our planet; let’s never give up on humanity,” said a social media user in reaction to the Ghanaian police officer’s viral video.
