Tatale-Sunguli District Deserves 122 More Police Officers To Reach UN Standards

Reports from the Tatale-Sanguli district indicate that armed robbers held the district of 67,193 inhabitants hostage for several hours in a robbery attempt which lead to the killing three residents.

According to statement from the Chief in a press conference carried by STARR FM, there are only 9 police officers in the entire district. But evidence from the District League Table and the I Am Aware Ghana data by UNICEF and CDD-Ghana respectively indicate that there are only 12 police officers in the district police indicating a gap of 122 police officers using the United Nations minimum standard of 1 police officer per 500 citizens.

Ghana is signatory to a number of United Nations Conventions on protecting and promoting citizen right to life, property and security and therefore has a legal and moral obligation to protect, promote and fulfill the fundamental human rights of all its citizens including the right to survival and right to life.

The Tatale-Sanguli incident has not only left in its wake loss of lives and property, it has exposed our vulnerability as a country as accounts from residents and eye witnesses indicate that Police from neighboring Togo considered entering as our local forces were overwhelm.

The Ministry of Interior and the various Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies to take urgent pragmatic steps to meet at least the minimum police coverage of at 1/500 people as recommended by the United Nations. Adhering to this will reduce crime and avoid continued criminal loss of lives.