The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwesi Ofori, has stated that the media hype of crime in the country does not necessarily suggest that there is an increase in crime.
Speaking on the crime rate in the country, ACP Ofori said the media hype rather serves as a channel for spreading fear among the citizenry of Ghana.
He pointed out that,;although the country can boast of more than 300 media houses in the country,;the media, however, scavenge on the gruesome cases of crime that induce the fear of crime in the public.
He said this goes to the point of the people being afraid in their own comfort zones;such as neighborhoods and even when they go out.
“Of late some of the media hype does not necessarily depict that there is an increase in crime;but some of the crimes are so worrying and disturbing. Let us not forget that we have more than 300 media houses,;though not accurate but more than, from the ordinary man’s perspective. They will all hype these kinds of stories and at the end of it,;you will see people experiencing fear of crime even in their own environs; they are afraid and even when they go out.”
ACP Kwesi Ofori
Public Affairs Unit helps educate people on security
ACP Ofori further noted that the Public Affairs Unit and community policing comes in to educate people on security on how to conduct themselves and how to live to avoid criminals in the country as a result of this fear.
He said even though the Police Service has been doing all these to alleviate the fears of crime among the citizenry,;the fear-riddled thinking still persists.
To this, he assured the general public that the new Inspector General of Police is determined to resource the Police Service in order to adequately nip crime in the bud.
“That is why the Public Affairs Unit,;the community policing comes in to educate people on security on how to conduct themselves, how to live to avoid criminals. And we have been doing all these for the common good of society. The thinking of the people still persists and what they expect from their police is to do more for them.
“I can assure you that that the present Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare;is so determined to take the police to another level. He is so determined that the police are going to win the war against violent criminals like robbers, kidnappers and others.”
ACP Kwesi Ofori
General public should join crime fight
ACP Ofori further pointed out that crime fighting is not a one-sided duty but a symbiotic relationship between the Police and the general public in order to succeed.
He further said combating crime is a shared responsibility which the Police will play its part actively and thus requires the general public to do same in fighting crime in the country.
