A security analyst and criminologist, Mr. Emmanuel Sowatey says the Ghana Police Service (GPS) must intensify its community policing as part of the measures being put in place to fight crime in the country.
His comment comes after armed robbers killed a police officer, an eyewitness and injured a bullion van driver at Adedenkpo, a suburb of Jamestown in Accra on Monday.
“Looking at the scene and the time of the day the event happened, community policing would really have helped the situation. If you have a very good community police at a time a crime is occurring, based on the little knowledge they have acquired they can help identify the people and the vehicles involved as well as contact the right sources for help,” he said.
He indicated that when community watchdogs are introduced into Ghana’s security system it will help the state to effectively combat crime which is currently on the surge in the country.
He also stated that there is the need for Ghanaians who own guns to go and register them with the police adding that all should be vigilant and report those who are using the guns in their position to engage in crime.
“Registering your gun will make the police aware of the weapons in the system. If you know anyone who is unlawfully using a gun in the country, please report the person to the police. Lots of people are unlawfully handling guns in the country and this is worrying.”
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Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer for the Ghana police service, Superintendent Sheila Abayie- Buckman says measures are being put in place to track the criminals who attacked the bullion van killing a police officer and an eye witness.
She indicated that primary investigations have already begun and she believes that the security sector will use the previous incident to pull up strategic measures to help reduce the crime rate in the country.
“The police and security sector are also doing its possible best to ensure that they perform their responsibilities well. We are also looking forward to deliver our duties in a most peaceful and respectable manner to ensure peace in the country. We also beseech individuals who are in the various communities of the recent crime happenings to cooperate with the police in terms of information gathering to help bring the criminals to face the law.”
She further stressed some previous arrangements made by the Bank of Ghana and other stakeholders to supply amoured and bullion vehicles by the end of the month.
“We believe the deceased policeman would have been saved if he was in an armoured vehicle. We hope that the banks from henceforth will also do their part to ensure a safe delivery of money and offer optimum protection for any security personnel at post. We will not post any security personnel to discharge his or her assigned duties in a bank that does not provide an armoured vehicle,” she added.
Source: Benedicta Arthur and Rosemond Asmah/ATLFMNEWS
