Police Worried About Upsurge In Murders

The Police Service has expressed concern about the recent spate of reported murders in some parts of the country.



Speaking to the Times, Deputy Superintendent of Police Kwasi Ofori, acting Director of the Police Public Affairs, noted that the country has recently recorded a number of gruesome and mysterious murders of which some of the victims were traditional rulers.

He cited Nana Boakye Badu Dankwa, in the Ashanti Region, who was shot while bathing, the stabbing of Yaw Asempana, in the Brong Ahafo Region, and the shooting of Nana Akola Baselane, in the Nkwanta District of the Volta region, as some of such murders.

He also mentioned the shooting of Numo Narh Mensah, alias John Narh, at Prampram and the case of Abugri Kusasi, who was alleged to have cut the throat of his pregnant wife.

DSP Ofori said that the Police have taken a serious view of these developments and would not compromise with anybody who would be arrested for committing any of such crimes.

He said another disturbing report came from the Adaklu-Wumenu in the Volta Region, where a Fulani herdsman, Bello Manu, allegedly stabbed a farmer who prevented the animals from grazing and drinking on his farm.

'We are particularly worried about these recent developments and would not compromise on them at all', he said and added that although the matters are being investigated by the Police and other institutions, the public is being warned before the situation gets out of hand.

'If we do not address this pratice now, a time a will come that it will become rampant with people being shot and others stabbed at functions and in vehicles', he said, and advised that people should use institutions like the courts, the police, the security services and opinion leaders to settle differences rather than resorting to confrontational and communal violence to solve discourses.

DSP Ofori condemned those who take the law into their own hands to commit violent acts which he said were criminal.

'The Police will not entertain any act of vandalism, or arson, or any communal violence which are all criminal'.

Ghana, he said, is noted for its unique peace and stability and the police would not allow anybody or group of persons to mar that reputation, especially as the country is about to celebrate its Golden Jubilee and more visitors and foreign dignitaries would visit the country.

DSP Ofori also expressed worry about cases of instant justice being meted out to suspects, saying that it retards the smooth flow of investigations.

He said anybody arrested for committing a crime should be taken to the police and not killed adding that 'Although people have their right to self defence, it must be done within limits in order not to put the lives of innocent people in jeopardy'.

He disagreed with the public view that the reduction in the crimewave is as a result of instant justice being meted out to criminals, saying it is rather due to the effective mechanisms put up by the security agencies.

The police are determined to reduce violent crime to the minimum. 'We will not give criminals the space to operate this year', he warned.