Security agencies declare war on armed robbers

8/11/2010

Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE police and the military commands have jointly declared war against armed robbers and resolved to pursue them wherever they would operate.
Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Paul Tawiah Quaye, and the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Lt General Augustine Blay, have directed the respective operational departments of the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces to formulate a joint action plan that would allow the two institutions to reduce highway robbery and other crimes in the country.
They also tasked the operational departments to review the methods and tactics used by the police and the military in the fight against crime.
The IGP and the CDS gave the directive at a high profile meeting attended by the high command of the police and the military over the weekend.
The meeting was to discuss the general crime situation in the country, and adopt strategies as to how best the two security services could team up to fight armed robbery in the nation.
The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Supt Kwesi Ofori, told the Daily Graphic that at the end of the meeting two institutions resolved to carry the fight to the criminals.
Supt Ofori said the police and the military would pool their resources and logistics and embark on short and long distance patrols and have more visibility on the highways.
“Arrangements have been made to have a well planned and co-ordinated action to achieve results,” he said.
He said the joint operation would be intelligence-led, and that the police would have more visibility and presence on the highways to prevent crime.
He mentioned the stretch from Kintampo-Tamale, Accra-Aflao, Accra-Cape Coast, Accra-Peki-Hohoe roads as some of the crime-prone areas of the country.
Supt Ofori said the security services would not allow the criminal elements to create tension and fear among the people, and indicated that “the two institutions have vouched not to allow the armed robbers to put their credibility into disrepute”.
Supt Ofori expressed the hope that the public would co-operate with the police in the exercise.
He urged the public to provide information on suspected criminals to the police, since that was crucial to fighting crime.
He reminded the public that the IGP’s informant notice fee of between GH¢2,000 and GH¢20,000 was still active.
He said the public could get the police on the following numbers: 0302 773906/0302 773695/ or MTN short code 18555.
Supt Ofori appealed to the media not to over-dramatise crime and ensure that their reportage “reflects the reality”.