Use pulpit to fight crime - IGP

Accra, July 10, GNA - The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye on Sunday appealed to the Clergy to use the pulpit to fight crime saying, 93crime has become multifaceted and as a result an equally multi-dimensional approach is needed to control, reduce and combat it".

He said it was, therefore, imperative that churches, and particularly the Police Church, preached against crime, in addition to its message of peace and spiritual upliftment.

Mr Quaye was speaking after he had laid the foundation stone of the remodelled and expanded chapel of the Ghana Police Church, opposite the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra.

He said Police records showed that increasing number of those arrested for committing crime were the youth and most often they blamed the devil.

"Statements like 91it was the work of the devil' are popular preambles to the confession of guilt often made by many people standing trial at the law courts for criminal offences."

The IGP, therefore, advocated the use of the congregation as ideal platform for the dissemination of anti-crime messages.

He said: 93It has become evident that one of the reasons why people are getting attracted to crime and criminality is the undue and unnecessary glorification of wealth by society. Time has come for us to show clear distinction between ill-gotten wealth and wealth that has been genuinely and honestly acquired."

The IGP said: "Because we glorify riches these days, we seldom question the sources of such riches. In indigenous Ghanaian society, person who became wealthy overnight or those, who had unexplained sources of income were shun by their peers and at times ostracized by the whole society.

"Today, such mysterious riches, which are obviously proceeds from the commission of serious crimes, are adored and the perpetrators elevated into positions of societal prominence," he said.

"I want you all to be aware that most of these instant wealth, comes from the commission of crimes 96 robberies, drug trafficking, stealing, embezzlement and of late internet fraud popularly known as SAKAWA," the IGP emphasised.

He cautioned Christians to always remember their commitment to Christianity and the Motherland and to avoid actions that might lead to the breach of the peace, destruction of property and loss of lives, especially as the country approached the period of electioneering campaigns.

"In the same vein, Christians must desist from participating in so called 91mob action'. Such actions are unlawful, disastrous and of course reprehensible. More often than not the victims of mob action are innocent citizens like you and me. Instant justice and lynching are tantamount to committing murder contrary to the fourth commandment," the IGP said.

The expanded chapel, designed in the mould of a modern worship centre is 33metres long; 28 metres wide and nine metres high with a tower rising to the height of 24 metres.

It has a comfortable seating capacity of 1,230 with an overflowing capacity of 1,400 and a compromised capacity of about 2,000 persons - the old chapel had a seating capacity of about 750 persons.

The front elevation shows a dignified proportioned piece of architecture with gentle, graceful lines in perfect symmetry.