We will deal with criminals - National Security

The national security apparatus has expressed its determination to deal with armed robbery and other related crimes to ensure peace and safety for all Ghanaians.In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in Accra Thursday, Lt Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, the National Security Co-ordinator, and Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), said the war against armed robbery and other criminal activities was on course.

Lt Col. Gbevlo-Lartey said the security agencies would stay focused on the task ahead of them, especially when investors, as well as hardworking and peace-loving people, needed serenity to work and sleep soundly.

“We will not allow these miscreants to torment decent people and put the whole country in fear,” he said, adding, “We will prove to all that we are, indeed, on top of the situation and that Ghana is safe for investment.”

He said the recent presentation of vehicles by the government to the security agencies was a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to fight crime.For his part, Mr Quaye said his pledge to change the face of policing was on course, as the seeming lethargy and the lack of commitment to work as professionals on the part of policemen were over.

He said the initial response was slow, but indicated that professionalism, commitment, dedication and a re-orientation to work were taking root “and the results are what we are seeing now”.He said although there had been a drastic decline in robbery cases, the fear of armed robbery attacks was enough psychological trauma that the police wanted to deal with.“We still have a long way to go in equipping the personnel and re-training them to deal with the changing strategies of the criminals,” he added.

Mr Quaye said he was particularly happy with the re-awakening of communities, resulting in some donating vehicles and motorcycles to the police.He said the police had also responded appropriately to their responsibilities, although some still seemed to be living in the past.“I am quite encouraged by the output of personnel and public co-operation so far,” he said.

He said the reward system instituted by the Police Administration was also yielding positive results because credible informants got rewarded without risking their lives.According to the IGP, the robustness of the police in the Volta, Accra, Tema and Ashanti regions in fighting the robbers had been amazing.He noted, for instance, that although there were few robbery cases in the Volta Region, the speed with which members of robbery gangs were arrested between 24 and 48 hours, even after they had escaped, was amazing.

Mr Quaye said the Police Administration was determined to improve the working conditions of the personnel and urged them to continue with the good work.

Source: Daily Graphic