Electronic transactions will minimize armed robberies - Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed government’s intentions to curb the rampant armed robbery cases in the country through the switch from cash-based transactions to electronic-based transactions.

He believes that this move will leave armed robbers with little to look out for when they embark on their criminal escapades.

Dr. Bawumia who made this comment at the National Youth Authority’s Youth Entrepreneurship Forum at the Accra Digital Centre on Friday, March 23, 2018 noted that “from the broader point of view, government is doing something about it but ultimately, what we are going to be hoping to see is that this economy goes more away from a cash-based transaction economy to more of an electronic-based economy. The more we move from towards cashless the less the armed robbers will have available when they come to a shop”.

The year 2018 commenced with an upsurge of armed robbery attacks, resulting in the loss of lives and properties. The incidents include one at Tema Industrial Area that saw a Lebanese gunned down and GH¢ 200,000 he had withdrawn from a bank taken.

Forex bureaux and mobile money points have also been major targets in these recent robberies.

The situation compelled President Akufo-Addo to implement ‘Operation Calm Life’ in order to combat the rampant criminal activities in the country.