The fight against armed robbery ... so far, so ....

Page 34: Daily Graphic, November 19, 2009.
By Albert K. Salia

IN an article in the May 19, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic, the writer raised pertinent issues that were confronting the Ghana Police Service. The writer indicated that for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, to succeed, those issues, some of which bordered on professionalism, ethics, right leadership, motivation and patronage, needed to be addressed.
It was also suggested that a Crime Intelligence Unit be established within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to source intelligence on crime and criminality to enhance proactive policing.
The IGP was also reminded of the fact that he could not afford to disappoint the President and the personnel of the Service who see him as someone to turn around the fortunes of the service.
Almost six months on assumption of office, the IGP has so far proved that he is a man of deeds, whose paramount objective is to provide leadership to the rest of the personnel.
The successes of the Ghana Police Service in fighting violent crime, particularly armed robbery in the last few months, is very heart-warming. Gradually, the lingering fear and the sense of insecurity among the populace as a result of the prevalence of armed robbery and other forms of criminality is giving way.
What is particularly heart-warming to some of us has been the ability of the police to arrest some of the perpetrators of those violent crimes even after the offences had been committed. The police have also been able to identify suspected robbers arrested as belonging to the same gangs involved in past undetected crimes. It should be noted that because past robberies and other crimes went undetected, it gave the perpetrators a false sense of security and courage to continue their activities with impunity. With the police going back to old files to trail criminals, it should send signals that they can run but for how long?
The police have also been able to closely monitor some of those robberies right from their planning stages up to the points of commission, resulting in the Accra Regional Police Command alone successfully busting more than 60 armed robberies by between June and September, this year, while 10 attempted robberies were foiled. More than 100 suspects have also been arrested.
Besides, the police have so far been able to identify a particular brand of cars as the most preferred for the commission of violent crimes. Most often, either the robbers dispossess you of such a vehicle or they use their own, which had been acquired for such purposes.
All these indicate that the security agencies are conducting intelligence-based mission-oriented operations to clamp down on identified criminal gangs.
Maybe, a rundown of some of the successes will suffice. After terrorising residents of Dzorwulu and Abelenkpe, during which a gym instructor, Daniel Owusu Sekyere was killed, the suspected robbers, Kwabena Buadi, Bright Agyei, alias Kudwo, William Dorglo, Francis Bediako, Danlad Ibrahim, among others, were arrested. A bunch of other robbers, whose speciality was to trail persons arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their houses before robbing them have also been arrested.
The operations of another robbery group, including suspects Ebenezer Obese, Napoleon Gomez and Obuor, which had been attacking filling stations since 2008, was brought to an end on August 22, 2009 when they were arrested. The arrest of suspect Kwabena Takyi, who is alleged to be part of the gang that killed Chief Inspector Nyame in Kumasi, was also arrested while on his way to rob a prominent footballer at Kakasunanka.
A number of weapons, including pistols, pump action guns, machetes, knives, clubs and ammunition, cars, motorcycles, talisman, mobile phones and laptops were retrieved from the suspects. Certainly, the police deserve commendation and thumbs up.
One could feel a sense of satisfaction and happiness on the faces of the IGP, Mr Paul Quaye, and his top officials during a press conference to announce the successes chalked up by the police in dealing with violent crime.
It shows that given the requisite logistical support and motivation, the police can deliver to make Ghana more peaceful and safe. That would require more governmental support. The presidential backing to support the police to deliver is certainly working out for all Ghanaians. As Mr Quaye said at the press conference, sometimes it is not always monetary incentives that provides motivation, but a handshake, a certificate and an assurance that your leaders are behind you is encouraging enough for personnel to work even harder. That is true, Mr IGP, I also hope that the Police Administration, apart from dealing with all outstanding promotion issues, the personnel who have so far proved their might in making Ghanaians enjoy the present peace be also promoted, even if it is just a step above their present ranks. At least, that would also cushion their salary levels.
While commending the police for the successes so far, the Police Administration needs to seriously look within its fold to address some lapses, which might negate all the achievements. The lapses include shoddy investigations, which might result in known or self-confessed armed robbers being set free by courts. Although the courts have been accused of acquiting and discharging suspects, a close study of the case would indicate that the investigators did not do their work well.
Furthermore, the leadership of the police at all levels must exercise proper supervision of their subordinates to ensure that at every point of investigation or in pursuit of any operation, the superiors are well-informed and provided the necessary guidance. At least, at the Accra Regional Police Command, a lance corporal was interdicted for granting police enquiry bail to a suspected armed robber, without the knowledge of the superiors. There have also been instances where investigators fail to renew remand warrants of suspects, resulting in the suspects lawyers securing bail for them at the courts.
After all, of what benefit is it to the public and the police, if after risking their lives day and night to deal with miscreants in society, the suspects are unleashed back into society for want of prosecution?
While appreciating whatever support the Government has provided the police, it could still do more in the area of providing more than enough bullet-proof vests for the Ghana Police Service. More durable vehicles are also needed, as well as communication gadgets for the police. Sometimes, the delay in responding to distress calls is because a patrol team could be far off from the area of crime, while those close to the area do not have a vehicle to move immediately.
The Government must be particularly commended for supporting the Police Service with financial incentive, which is being used to motivate citizens, that is, the informant reward system to provide valuable pieces of information and clues towards crime detection. All the agencies and personalities, right from the Presidency, the National Security Council Secretariat and civil society organisations to the ordinary man in the street, deserve commendation. They have played their part well so far in terms of support, strategy, operations, tactics and co-operation.
Members of the public and organisations must also come in one way or the other to support the police in their respective communities. The public and the organisations appreciate the challenges confronting the police in their localities and must rise up to the task of supporting them. However, the donors should not hide behind such assistance for perpetrating crime or abusing the laws of the land, thinking that the police would look the other way.
As the Daily Graphic noted in its editorial, “The task of attaining and securing a safer and sounder society with the minimum level of threat to lives and property is a collective one, and it behoves all of us to work together to rout these social misfits.”