Murder cases increase in Brong-Ahafo

Brong-Ahafo Region has recorded 71 murder cases within five years, Mr Eric Opoku, the Regional Minister, said on Tuesday.

The region recorded 37 cases of murder in 2014 and 34 cases in 2009, the Regional Minister said, at the end of year meeting of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council in Sunyani.

Mr Opoku said the number of armed robbery cases reported in the region significantly reduced to five by the end of July, 2015, as compared to the 19 cases recorded within the same period in the previous year.

The meeting was attended by Heads of Departments, District and Municipal Chief Executives as well as Coordinating Directors in all the 27 Municipal and District Assemblies in the region.

Mr Opoku said 4,609 criminal cases were recorded in the region by the end of July 2015, and entreated the general public to support security agencies in crime fighting.

He said with the exception of a shooting incident at Portor, which resulted in the loss of three lives as well as disturbances at Tuobodom and Kukuom, there was no security threat in the Region.

Mr Opoku noted with concern that chieftaincy disputes are also a major security challenge, adding though the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs had been able to resolve some of the cases it ought to be more proactive in finding lasting solutions to the 47 disputes left.

He said the Brong-Ahafo Regional Security Council (RCC) would ensure effective collaboration with the Municipal and District Security Councils to monitor and address all the security concerns.