The recent killing of an innocent boy of 9 years at Abidwan near Mampong by a gang of armed robbers has shocked some of us greatly.
I am increasingly baffled by the wicked nature of armed robbers-no sympathy. Equally worryingly is that there seems to be no breakthrough in resolving this social canker.
I cannot actually fathom the rationale behind these diabolical activities by these children of the devil-armed robbers. They are really causing unhappiness and insecurity in our society. Ghanaians by nature have sympathy for their fellow Ghanaian and therefore the barbaric nature of recent armed robbers gives a concern or are we being taught to be wicked by our surrounding neighbours?
Recently, a leading member of the NDC, on a Radio discussion attributed the economic hardships in the country as a reason for the upsurge in armed robbery causes. But has he been able to ask where the armed robbers get money from in buying some of the guns they used in their wicked activities? It is a fact that many armed robbers? posses? mansions. Another argument, which is being peddled around, is that, some group of armed robbers are embarking on these activities just to create instability in the country in order to make the NPP unpopular. Be as it may, it is the responsibility of the government to put in place a sound mechanism to arrest these wicked activities plunging our society. Some even go further by putting the blame on the media by claiming that the proliferations in Radio Stations make it frequent for armed robbery cases to be heard by many Ghanaians. For me, there is no denying the fact that armed robbers have grown more violent, more widespread and more puzzles in recent years.
I strongly believe that many of these armed robbers embark on their diabolical activities greatly by the influence of narcotics. They take these drugs, which make them to lose their sense of reasoning, to put it blank they have no brain. The linkage between armed robbery and drugs have made some of us more worried. That is why it is really regrettable when some authorities seem unconcern about dealing with the issue of narcotics. Regardless of the Military/Police frequent patrols if the authorities responsible for dealing with drug peddlers do not deal ruthlessly with offenders, the mayhem armed robbers are causing in our society will not subside. Many Ghanaians you talk to are also not happy about the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature?s attitude towards this ?hurricane?-armed robbery-in Ghana.
Some even suggest that the method used by the previous government where it is allege armed robbers were killed even before the Court hear to embark on their prolonged adjudication worked so well. For me whether it is true or not that the previous government used such method, our present entrench Rule Of Law dictates that it is only the Courts that can sentence some one, it is gladden that recently a Sunyani High Court sentenced some three armed robbers to 90 years imprisonment.
Significantly, I think it is time all government officials particularly the DCEs, to hold frequent consultation ?at least once a month- with Heads of Military, Police unit and even chiefs in their jurisdiction to fashion out strategy in addressing these satanic forces in our society who are bent on causing discomfort and anxiety to our people. The situation where some DCEs sit down in their offices for a disaster to strike before hurriedly summoning the relevant authorities is unfashionable in modern way of governing a people.
Equally worth mentioning is that, both the government and the local authorities should increased massively the rewards given to informant of crime in our society. I strongly believe that a Social Fund should be established where individuals can contribute for the money to be solely used in rewarding informants, especially armed robbery; worryingly in Ghana, many Funds established had been mismanaged so which Ghanaian will be enthused in making contribution into this Fund, perhaps the Ministry of National Orientation can change that attitude. It must also be stressed that the Police should be given more training on how to deal with kidnapping since some armed robbers are employing this tactics lately. I have no idea how the issue of a National Emergency Number is being addressed.
It is also very regrettable that the Police Service has continued to live in a very deplorable accommodation. At times I stood speechless when upon entering a Police Station you realised that there are no furniture, no stationery, no vehicle and even no telephone, how can they be motivated in such a situation to arrest armed robbers? But some of the Police are their own enemies when some of them drink to much alcohol with the local people and so much obsess with taking bribes thereby inefficiency sets in.
Regardless, the Police Service needs a greater attention; it is therefore reflections when a Member of Parliament from the Volta Region recently raised the issue of the Police on the floor of the House, even in the United Kingdom a whole Minister is in charge of the Police Service (am certainly not advocating for a Minister for Police in Ghana).
The sad news is that, it is reported that the Police Administration are unknowingly recruiting people with criminal records, unfortunately, how to check recruits background is a problem in Ghana. Though, the Government needs to be saluted on a few areas in resolving the armed robbery in Ghana, I join million of Ghanaians in pleading with the Presidency to lunch a National Crusade on the armed robbery phenomenon, I will also urge the TUC, Labour Commission, Chiefs, the NPP, NDC, and all Nationalists thinking Ghanaians to send proposals to the authorities on how to resolve the mystery surrounding armed robbery.
Frankly, we got to collectively decide to find a therapy for these satanic forces destroying our society.
LONG LIVE GHANA
CERNARVON CLOSE MITCHAM, SURREY LONDON. UK
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