Over the past days, there has been a lot of stories and videos in mainstream media as well on social media with regards to security issues in the country. This morning I listened to a woman on Citi FM narrate how she and her mother were victimized by armed men in the presence of her kids. This got me thinking a lot. This experience will create a very lasting imprint on the minds of these young kids and they will have to live with it for the rest of their lifes ......…how sad!
These stories in the media are not only happening in the national capital but across the country. My good friend Senyalah Castro Cazo , a hard working journalist based in the Upper East region who works with Atinka FM wrote on his Facebook timeline about the theft of seven motorbikes in Navrongo in a single night. Myjoyonline.com also reported about a woman shot in Obuasi in the Ashanti region. The stories go on and on. From a sociological perspective, these happenings are 'normal' in any well functioning society. However, if you have one two many of them reported, it is worrying, alarming and troubling and calls for action rather than rhetoric.
Most of us will say we have nothing to be robbed off or to become targets. Well think again…a man was reportedly robbed in the eastern region at gunpoint off his GH 5. Yes 5 cedis and that means if he had tried playing hero, he would have died because of a meagre 5 cedis. This means to everyone out there with at least 5 cedis can be a target.
I fear for my life, I fear for the future of this country; a country with SHS-level recruited police personnel who are ill resourced to face University (tertiary)-level robbers with advanced weapons the armouries in our security agencies have not seen before.
It was refreshing listening to the Interior minister on radio speak of plans to procure 3 helicopters for the police service as well as a budgetry allocation of GH 800 million to resource the service. It is however important to note that this will only be curing the ailment from the top while its roots remain firmly stacked to the ground.
The number one cause of ARMED ROBBERY IN GHANA IS THE HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT!!! This is a fact that is known to many and yet we have leaders who count ‘by-day concrete workers’ as jobs being created. It is sad, we have 30+ year old abled Ghanaians who still rely on the monthly pension allowance of their parents. No youth and I repeat NO YOUTH will think of robbery when he or she has a decent job. All we need are jobs that will keep us going.. So if the president and his team are really passionate about the Ghanaian youth who overwhelmly voted for him, then He should hasten in his efforts towards creating jobs. If you have over one hundred thousand people applying to join the police only is an indication that Ghanaian youth are not lazy and we are ready to WORK.
These robberies we are witnessing will get worse if nothing pragmatic is done. It requires a holistic approach and all MDA’s should get involved. The ban on galamsey should be reviewed same as the paperless system that has rendered some 'goro' boys at our ports and borders jobless.
The video of the incident yesterday captured the number plate of the car, the DVLA should be able to pull the records of that car and the investigations can start from there. Also it is not common that the robbers knew that the man had such a huge sum on him…more digging can be done.
Finally I will like to charge everyone to be vigilant, don’t expect your neighbor to be the "security man" to your property. Keep less cash on you and make it a habit to do business electronically. Once every member of your household is in, please lock your doors, don’t wait till you are going to bed. In case of any emergency please call 112, it works. If you suspect something is going on nearby call 112 immediately.
It is my right to be safe and it is the responsibility of the government to keep me safe.
#ItsMyRightToBeSafe
Thanks
Written by: Ali Moro
Edited by: Abuga John
Published by Adda Parkins
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