The Minority in Parliament is calling on government to fast track investigations into killings of the James Town bullion Van attack and bring the perpetrators to book as soon as possible to deter other criminals.
Speaking at the news conference in Parliament on Tuesday, 15th June, 2021, the Minority Spokesperson on Defence and Interior, James Algalga said, Ghanaians no longer feel safe compared to the immediate past.
He suggested that “violent crime related cases particularly robbery is shaking the foundation of our nation and it is only fair and a duty for us to call on the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration to up its game”.
The MP for Bulsa North and Former Deputy Minister of Interior stated that, crime is rising nowadays.
On Monday, 14th June, 2021 Constable Emmanuel Osei of National SWAT and one civilian were killed in an armed robbery attack at Accra, near Korle-Bu which has become very topical as many have raised concerns over Government commitment to provide the police protective gears during special operations like escorts.
According to him, the continuous attack on police officers and civilians by armed robbers has demoralized the men and women in uniform “occasioning violent crime becoming a daily affair from Hamile or Paga through Techiman to Accra”.
He noted that, in modern times, SMART Policing is the new concept many democracies are adopting and “SMART Policing promotes citizen friendliness”.
“We cannot be successful in policing without intelligence and the creation of the Police Intelligence Directorate to serve as an anchor to Police Operations seems not to be hitting the right notes”, he added.
The minority has also raised issues with over aged officers at the National headquarters and as Regional Commanders, as he recognized that “giving contracts to officers after they hit the mandatory retirement age of 60 is the prerogative of the president but if government decisions do not produce the results that citizens expect, the peace and security that we so desire, we will become spectators and not citizens if we fail to raise the red flag”.
He therefore called on the President, Chairman of the National Security Council, and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces to “demonstrate leadership to ensure the peace and security of a country that has remained the oasis of peace in a troubled Region is not compromised”.
Story filed by Edzorna Francis Mensah
