Is crime rate increasing in Ghana?
Abdul Salam Sule, Ghanadot
Accra, May 19, Ghanadot - Ghana is
undoubtedly a peaceful country with unquestionable
democratic credentials and it is seen as a beacon of hope
for many African countries.
But the recent upsurge in crime in the country has
left much to be desired and it is
no wonder the general public is questioning the combat
readiness of the Ghana Police service in fighting crime.
In Accra for instance, some areas are noted to be spots for
criminal activities where unsuspecting members of the
general public are terrorised and
robbed of their valuable items with impunity. The areas
include the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Odawna Station, Achimota,
Tudu, Kantamanto and Ashaiman.
Snatching of mobile phones, defrauding of people under the
pretext of selling precious minerals to them and sale of
faulty mobile phones are some of the criminal activities
perpetrated in these areas.
At the Kwame Nkrumah Circle for instance, the famous spots
where phones are snatched from the victims are the bus stop
opposite the Orion cinema building and the traffic light
between the Kaneshie station and the new pedestrian market.
The bus stop opposite the
Orion cinema abounds with pick pockets who take advantage of
the rush by commuters to get vehicles to their homes and
therefore pick their phones.
The criminals take advantage of the chaotic situation at
that time, mingle with commuters and flock the vehicles as
if they are going to board them but what they do is to steal
phones and sometimes money.
The phones that are stolen
from these spot are quickly sent to the area near Ghana
Telecom, now Vodafone where they are sold for a pittance.
Behind the pedestrian market at the Odawna station, the
criminals have created a no-go- zone where they plan their
activities and take stock of daily operations.
Meanwhile, drivers, mates,
traders and some residents in the area know these criminals
very well and their activities but look unconcerned as they
(the criminals) continue with
their nefarious activities.
The traders and the
residents always explained that, their inability to expose
these gangsters who have become a law on their own was a
result of the fear that the criminals might attack them,
hence their decision to play the ostrich.
Some of these criminals have other ways of duping people
rather than stealing from their pockets or bags. They
approach pedestrians and pretend to be in a difficult
situation such as running short of money for transport. They
continue asking for the same support from as many people as
possible and at the end of the day make a fortune.
Mr Kwasi Donkor, a security expert has said, the crime in
the country could be traced to the act of indiscipline and
looting that charcterised the various coups in the country.
In an interview with
Ghanadot, the security expert said, the act of violence and
looting that took place in the various coup-de-tats left in
its wake some criminals and that is what the nation is
currently reaping this load of crime.
Mr Donkor also blamed the increase in crime rate on
unemployment among the youth. He said, it was not by chance
that the saying that, 'the devil finds work for the idle
hands' came into being and some of the people who involved
themselves in criminal activities do so on the basis that
there was no work to employ them.
He has therefore called on the Ghana Police Service to
expedite action on combating crime in the capital city and
the nation as a whole. He also advised the Attah Mills led
administration to consider creating more jobs as he promised
in the manifesto of his party.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police
Service, DSP Kwasi Ofori, has assured the general public of
the readiness of the police service to combat crime in the
capital city and the country in general.
In an interview, DSP Kwasi Ofori said, the Police has
launched 'operation calm life' and it was a joint police and
military operation to combat the upsurge of crime in the
country.
"We have a lot of policemen and military personnel who are
going to do the work and our main objective is to arrest and
clamp down on criminals and reduce crime to the barest
minimum", he assured.
He said, the police have acquired new equipments and
logistics and they have develop new operational strategy to
end the crime menace in the country.
DSP Kwasi Ofori has therefore assured the general public to
be calm and support the police with vital information that
would lead to the arrest of the criminals from their hide
out.
Ghanadot
