We will crack all murder cases— Interior Minister
All outstanding murder cases will be investigated to their logical conclusion and prosecution undertaken by the Ghana Police Service, Mr Ambrose Dery, the Ministry of Interior, has assured.
He said all cases such as the murder of Ahmed Suale, an investigative journalist, alleged violence by security agencies were being investigated and would be completed in a short period of time.
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“Government is committed to investigating every criminal case to its logical conclusion, we cannot be influenced by whoever is involved,” he added.
The Minister gave the assurance at the opening ceremony of the National Police Command Conference,2021 at Akosombo in the Eastern Region yesterday.
The three-day conference on the theme “The role of leadership in preventing violent crimes and promoting community safety” aimed to deliberate on security issues in the country.
It was attended by members of the Police Management Board, regional commanders and other sister security agencies.
The Minister said murder cases nationwide increased from 123 in the first quarter 2020 to 124 in first quarter of 2021.
He said robbery cases in the first quarter of this year was 495 as against 525 the previous year, rape 97 in three months of this year as against 119 in 2020 and kidnap cases reduced from 27 in 2020 to 21 this year in the first quarter of the year.
“Another area of concern in respect to the loss of lives is in road traffic crashes which have increased to the extent that 771 persons were killed in the first quarter of this year,” he added.
He said the need for co-operation between the police and the public could not be overemphasised, adding that security was a shared responsibility and security could be achieved with the help of the citizenry.
The Minister stated that the current police/civilian ration of 1:768 fell short of the United Nations global ration of 1:500, adding that the Government was committed to bridging the gap to ensure that it met UN global ratio.
“Government is striving in its responsibility and capabilities to ensuring that the required needs of the Police Service are catered for,” Mr Dery said.
He urged the police personnel to make use of “community concept” to encourage the communities to partake in crime prevention.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, in his remarks stated that Ghana had been and continued to be a peaceful country.
“The 2020 Global Peace Index report produced by the Institute of Economic and Peace on June 11, 2020 ranked Ghana as the third most peaceful country in the sub-Saharan Africa,” he added.
He said despite the peace and security the country continued to face the threats of terrorism, robbery, murder, manslaughter, arson, rape, kidnapping, assault and domestic violence.
“These crimes are perpetrated by a network of organised criminal gangs who are quite resourced and equipped to commit crimes internally and externally,” he added.
He stressed the need to collaborate with the members of the community in the fight against criminals.
The IGP urged commanders to prioritise the physical and psychology wellbeing of personnel working under our respective commanders.
Mr Oppong-Boanuh also called on them to liaise with other security agencies to promote community safety.
The District Chief Executive of Asuogyaman, Mr Samuel Agyekum, who represented the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Seth Acheampong, called on the police administration to increase the personnel in the region for effective security.
He commended the personnel of the service for ensuring peace and security over the years even at the peril of their lives.
Source: www.spotonnews.net
