'Ghana is almost becoming a lawless country' – Kwasi Kwarteng on Kakum shooting

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) national communications team, Kwasi Kwarteng, has expressed concern over what he described as the increasing disregard for law and order in Ghana.

His comment follows the killing of a wildlife resource guard at the Kakum Forest Reserve.

The 58-year-old guard, Richard Otwey, was shot and killed by a suspected poacher during a routine patrol operation near the Kakum National Park in the Central Region on Saturday, August 22.

Reacting to this on Accra-based JoyNews' AM Show on Monday, August 24, Mr Kwarteng said the circumstances surrounding the killing raised concerns about possible revenge.

He stressed the need for the police and other relevant state institutions to investigate the incident thoroughly.

“It looks like it is becoming a trend, and please, I want to issue a caveat. That's not a matter of politics. I don't care who is in government or who is not in government. But the point is that it's almost like it's become so easy to commit a crime in Ghana.”

He said the apparent ease with which some people commit crimes without facing consequences is partly due to declining public confidence in the justice system.

According to him, repeated reports of people committing offences, alleged misuse of public funds and disregard for safety regulations without accountability could contribute to a perception that the law could be violated with impunity.

Kwarteng said such developments may create a situation where citizens feel they could take the law into their own hands.

He called on the investigative authorities to establish the facts surrounding Mr Otwey’s death and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.