Ruffians mug two British girls

A series of muggings against predominantly British visitors to Accra, which are rumoured to have been carried out by the same gang, reached a new level of violence last Sunday night with a car chase and knife attack. The attack happened on the Teshie-La road around the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel at about 11.55 that night.

Two female volunteers, aged 18 and 22, were traveling home after spending the evening with friends watching films at Champs Spons Bar at Paloma, when a car, reportedly a black hatchback, drove them off the road and forced the taxi to stop by cutting in front of it.

At this point, the taxi driver exited the vehicle leaving the girls, neither of whom wish to be named, to the mercy of the two or three men surrounding the car. Both back doors to the car were opened and the girls were threatened with knives as the muggers demanded the girls’ bags.

It was at this point that the older girl was stabbed. The mugger who was threatening her became impatient as she struggled to free her bag, which had become caught up in the foot well of the taxi, and stabbed her once in the right arm and twice in the right hip. The younger girl escaped with a slight cut to her chin and a hit to the head with the butt of a knife.

Once the men had made their escape, the taxi driver returned to the vehicle and drove them to La Palm Hotel, where they received assistance and were then driven to Trust Hospital to receive treatment.” This mugging is the most violent in a series of attacks that appear to be targeting a particular group of British volunteers working in Accra. The majority of attacks have taken place in Osu and have been aimed at pedestrians walking at the side of the road.

However, the factor that links all the attacks, which have been going on since the beginning of January this year is the similarity of the car described by the majority of the victims. In most cases, a black hatchback, which has been described as a VW or a Cavalier, has been the vehicle used either to drag the victim along the road, or an escape vehicle for the muggers who have got out of the car to carry out the theft.

This car has also been noticed driving by places where the group of volunteers are known to relax in the evening and it is distinctly possible that the two volunteers involved in the knife attack were followed from Paloma by the gang. Although these events in themselves are bad enough, they raise some issues that urgently need to be addressed in a wider context, not only for the sake of the victims and potential victims, but for the benefit of Ghana as well.

Firstly, the misconception that all whites are rich, and carry large amounts of cash or expensive items with them needs to be considered. The young targets of these attacks are volunteers. They are working in Ghana without getting paid because they want to contribute in a positive way to Ghanaian society. Many worked hard prior to coming to Ghana in order to save enough money to be able to sustain themselves for the duration of their stay.

Secondly, the potential effects of an escalating crime wave needs to be addressed in relation to Ghana’s tourism industry. Ghana has an international reputation as an exceptionally friendly, and more importantly, a safe country. This, in a world which is increasingly paranoid concerning international security, is a priceless asset which should be closely protected and actively developed.

The long-term result of these attacks could be to undermine Ghana’s international reputation, and to make tourists, volunteers and even businessmen think twice before entering the country.