The Menace Of Armed-Robbery In Ghana: Causes And Suggested Remedies

I have been following with keen interest recent articles in the dailies on armed robbery and its menace to society. My sentiments are no different from those expressed by contributors on the issue. Indeed, so widespread has armed robbery become that there is the urgent need to check this cankerworm.

The causes of armed robbery are not difficult to trace. This social menace takes its roots from the poor control parents exert over their children during their formative years. It is the responsibility of parents to give proper training to their children so that they grow up to become useful members of the community in which they live. Unfortunately, when parents fail to exert control over their children they grow up to become social misfits, spoilt to the extreme. Often, such children, unable to go through school discipline, drop out of school and take to the streets where they learn all forms of immoral behaviour. They take to smoking, drinking, gambling, and to survive, start off pilfering. The situation takes a major turn for the worse when these children begin to use drugs, a situation which eventually pushes them into armed robbery.

Unemployment is one of the immediate causes of armed robbery. The decline in the country's economy has brought in its trail the problem of unemployment. Today there are hordes of unemployed persons, particularly the youth and school leavers who constantly roam on our streets and workplaces in search of non-existent jobs. The situation has become aggravated by the backlog of retrenched workers especially from government corporations. All these people need to provide for themselves food, clothing, shelter and other necessities of life. To make ends meet some of these people are tempted to engage in armed robbery.

The desire of today's youth to get rich quickly is a contributory factor to armed robbery. Most of today's youth crave for a comfortable life-style and desire to possess all the fanciful things in life. They dream of living in beautiful mansions, wearing the best of clothes and expensive shoes, riding in the latest cars, and of course, eating the best of foods. What escapes the youth is that under our present economic difficulties, such desires cannot be attained, and that even if they are attainable, they need to work extremely hard. Unfortunately, most of today's youth are not prepared to lift a finger to do an honest work; they want the quickest means of getting money. No wonder, some of them take to armed robbery.

The influence of western films and literature also accounts for armed robbery in our society. Today, our population is exposed to a variety of western films and literature most of which depict scenes of violence, sex, rape, drugs and of course robbery. Studies have revealed that it is youth who are often attracted to these films and books. Since youth marks a stage of adventure, it is not uncommon to find within some of our youth the desire to experiment with some of the traits depicted in the films they watch and the books they read.

As is the case with most social vices, it may be difficult to eradicate armed robbery from the society. However, serious efforts could be made to help curb the situation. First of all, Government should ensure that the police are adequately catered for; they should be provided equipment such as patrol vehicles and telecommunication gadgets to help them combat crime effectively. The need to recruit more policemen to beef up the existing number and to improve their conditions of service is also relevant.

Secondly, members of the public should be sensitized on the need to complement the efforts of the police by forming Neighbourhood Watchdog Committees in all communities to track down suspected criminals.

Thirdly, the government should ensure that measures are put in place to generate more jobs for the several jobless youth that roam our streets. The creation of jobs, one must emphasize, should not be the responsibility of government alone. Individuals should strive to create avenues for self-employment. The unskilled youth, for example, can be assisted to acquire marketable skills in activities such as kente-weaving, cane-chair making, carpentry and basket-weaving. Once they have the opportunity to earn some income the temptation to engage in armed robbery will be reduced greatly.

Finally, there is the need to review the country's penal code so that harsh sentences ranging from life imprisonment to death by firing squad are imposed on persons convicted of armed robbery. This will serve as a deterrent to others.

The ever-growing menace of armed robbery certainly requires an urgent response from the public as well as the law-enforcement agencies. I strongly identify with the school of thought which contends that in the absence of tough measures this cankerworm of armed robbery will continue to rear its ugly head.

Moses Tettey Dometey,

Youth Activist,

Lower Manya Krobo,

Eastern Region.

HP: 0246969345

19th June, 2021.