Crime Shoots Up In Obuasi

A SUMMARY of all the cases reported in 2010 to 2012 has indicated an increase in crime in the Obuasi municipality.

ACP Kofi Dwumfour Berchie, Obuasi Divisional Police Commander has stated that public cooperation and support in terms of logistics is needed to bring to an end to criminal activities.

According to him, cases such as armed robbery, stealing, assaults, fraud and threat of death shot up from 30 to 44, 312 to 468, 225 to 372, 70 to 117 and 40 to 88 respectively.

Speaking on the occasion of the 2011 West African Security Service Activities (WASSA) celebration in Obuasi for officers in the division, ACP Berchie said comparative analysis made during the first quarter of 2011 and 2012 also pointed to a continuous increase in robbery, unlawful entry and threat of death.

In the area of domestic violence against women and children, the police commander stated that reported cases ranging from defilement, rape, non-maintenance, and assault rose from 192 in 2010 to 254 in 2011, depicting a difference of 62 cases representing 24 percentage increases.

Cases such as murder, indecent assault, abortion, trespassing, threat of harm and causing harm however registered a decreasing trend with murder dropping from 11 to 9 and abortion from 5 to 1, he underscored.

ACP Berchie praised officers at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) for working actively to respond to the increasing number of cases involving abuse in domestic relationships.

He noted that the increase in cases reported was attributable to awareness creation, and added that the court unit, which was responsible for cases prosecution, had registered 532 cases at both circuit and magistrate courts in Obuasi.

The police commander said 221 of the cases, representing 42 percent had been dealt with as of March 5, 2012.

'The challenge, however, is that the unit has inadequate number of prosecutors to handle cases,' he pointed out and asked that more officers be posted to the unit to deal with cases expeditiously.

Meanwhile, the police commander revealed that regular and intensive night patrols embarked upon by officers yielded positive results for the Fomena District Police Command with no incidence of highway robbery and reduction in motor accidents.

Over the period, ACP Berchie indicated that the police, with support from the forestry commission, fought chain-saw operators to reduce the menace caused to the environment.

He mentioned staff accommodation and the lack of logistics as part of the challenges facing the division, disclosing that population of many towns and communities in Obuasi, Akrokerri, Adansi Akrofuom, Apitiso and Ampuyase had outnumbered personnel.

He called on individuals and corporate organizations to assist the police with logistics to combat crime and protect lives and properties.

On discipline, Mr. Berchie observed that general discipline among officers had improved a lot but said that the beef of his men had been the payment of guard duties promised to ensure that the officers involved got their due.

On his part, the Ashanti Regional Deputy Police Command, ACP Mensah Duku congratulated officers for the good work done, but said that in spite of the implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) some personnel continuously soiled the image of the police service with their corrupt practices.

'We must resolve to eschew all perceived corrupt practices and help smoke out the few bad nuts among us, because as the axiom goes, 'When one finger rings oil it dirties all the rest,' so that together we win our image redemption fight,' he underscored.

  From Ernest Kofi Adu, Obuasi