Member of Parliament for Builsa North, James Agalga, has urged President Akufo-Addo to implement measures to address the surge of insecurity in the country.
According to him, the President’s second term has been inundated with an increase in crimes, rendering Ghanaians unsafe.
“Four years more for Nana has begun with a rise in fear of crime. Ghanaians no longer feel safe. Cases of violent crime, particularly, robbery are shaking the foundation of our nation. It is only fair and a duty for us to call on the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration to up its game”.
The Builsa North legislator reveals that the scarcity in police-population ratio is already a matter of concern, requiring redress. Mr. Agalga further explained that, this has been worsened by the spate of attacks and loss of lives of police personnel.
This, he noted, will affect the number of Police personnel available to serve the citizenry.
“It is instructive to note that Ghana is yet to meet the United Nations minimum Police: Population ratio of 1:500. The Police: Population ratio of Ghana still hovers around 1:800. What this means is that, the security of about 800 citizens will be in jeopardy anytime the nation loses a single Police Officer”.
Ghanaians lives matter
Additionally, Mr. Agalga revealed that crime rates in recent times have demoralized the security personnel. As such, the country’s security should be a source of concern if the people tasked to protect Ghanaians are now concerned about their survival.
“The life of every Ghanaian matter; including the lives of men and women who swore an oath to provide protection for us. When the protector is killed, what will those who were expected to be protected do?
“We cannot continue to witness in pain, officers go through preventable deaths. Losing five Police Officers within a week through different causes is quite worrying. The security of 4000 Ghanaians per the ratio is compromised bringing more pressure to bear on the reduced police numbers”.
Police escort for carting money
The Builsa North MP also described as unlawful the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh to withdraw police escort if banks do not provide safe armoured vehicles for carting money by the end of June.
“The directive of the IGP is in direct contravention to that of the regulator, Bank of Ghana”.
Following this, he urged the IGP and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to reconcile their differing opinion. Mr. Agalga insists that they must work in the interest of the country and its security.
“This call is a show of disrespect to the discerning public. The Director General of CID, by the Police rules and regulations.
“If the IGP thinks the DG/CID is not up to the task, a reshuffle is an option available, but to remind him to do his job. It looks like a cut and paste from the directive given to Prof Ken Attafuah of National Identification Authority by the President to ensure a balance in recruitment, something that in a working democracy, Prof Attafuah does not need to be reminded of”.
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