Murder In The Freedom Lane

Four hundred and fifty-nine people were killed in Ghana last year. Behind the peace and tranquility of constitutional government and its guaranteed rights and freedoms is a very dark side of life in Ghana. Almost two people are killed unlawfully every day in the country. Last year, beneath the euphoria of the change of guards at the castle where President Kufour took charge and proclaimed “positive change” after the 20-year rule of Jerry Rawlings, as many as 459 people were murdered across the country.

Between January and June this year, as many as 211 people have already been butchered to death, according to the police statistics, Public agenda has laid hands on. Ashanti Region topped the league table of murders with 139-recorded deaths. In Accra, 70 persons were unlawfully killed with 22 unlawful deaths in Tema. Eastern Region recorded 43, Central 40, Volta 37 and Western 36, Brong Ahafo Region 26, northern 16, Upper East 20 and Upper West 10. There were 26 cases of man-slaughter mainly in the Volta and Western region. For the first half of this year, Accra has recorded 30 deaths with eight killings in Tema. Once more Ashanti Region leads the table with 40 murders followed by the Western region with 32, Eastern 24, Volta 21, Central 20, Brong ahafo Region 17, Northern 11, Upper east 5 and Upper West 3.

There are nine cases of attempted murder in the Western Region, six each in the Ashanti, four in Brong Ahafo, three each in Tema and Ashanti, two Volta and one in the central region. There are eight manslaughter cases in all with Ashanti Region and Volta with one each. In the crime statistics that make grim reading there were 11121 threatening cases around the country, 44422 assault cases, 87 cases of rape and 5508 reported cases of fraud. As many as 4920 cases of causing damage were reported to police stations across the country. There were as many as 490 cases of defilement reported in the 10 regions of Ghana. Ashanti region recorded the highest number of defilement cases with as many as 157 reported cases. Central Region recorded 87, Volta 69, Western 60, and eastern 37.

Addressing the media after his induction into office, the new Inspector general of Police Nana Owusu Nsiah said the Police Administration is looking into the possibility of dividing the country into five zones for effective crime combating. “We are exploring the possibility of dividing the country into five operational command posts to tackle the problem of armed robbery, chieftaincy disputes and other riots”. They are the Southern Command comprising Accra/Tema, Eastern Command for the Eastern and Volta Regions, Western Command for the Western and Central regions, Ashanti command for the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions and the Northern Command for the Upper West, Upper East and Northern region.