IGP to launch Youth Crime Watch Programme

Accra, Jan 6 - The Inspector General of Police, Patrick K. Acheampong will soon launch Youth Crime Watch of Ghana, as a mechanism in engaging the youth, to report crime cases and provide crime-free, drug-free environments through a youth-led movement.

The launch will be held at the Mount Mary Teacher Training College at Somanya, in the Eastern Region.

The forthcoming launch follows a Youth Conference on Campus Crime Education, held three years ago at the Police Headquarters in Accra. It involved some educational institutions, including the Cape Coast University, the Accra Teacher Training College and others.

A memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to that effect, over three years ago, between the Police Administration and the Youth Crime Watch of America (www.ycwa.org), hence the need to implement the initiative.

The Youth Crime Watch of America programme is seriously needed now in every school and community, because of the high crime rate among the youth, says Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwesi Ofori. More also, about 70% of all crime case in Ghana, were the youth, hence, the IGP decision to make the youth the target.

“Youth Crime Watch of Ghana will help instill positive values, foster good citizenship and build self-confidence in the Ghanaian youth and enable the youth to become resources for preventing crime, drug use and violence in their schools and communities” DSP Kwesi Ofori emphasized.

Basically, the mission of YCWG will be attained through the formation of clubs in every school in Ghana, (which some schools in the Greater Accra, Central, and Ashanti regions, has already been established) where students would write articles, be involved in quiz competitions, debates and discussions. Police Personnel will also be involved to ensure the success of the programme.