Let's End Armed Robbery Terrorism in Ghana!

Let's End Armed Robbery Terrorism in Ghana!

Dear President Mills, Members of Parliament, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Justice & Attorney General, Minister of Local Government & Rural Development, Greater Accra Regional Minister, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and Mayor -- Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), and Assembly members.

The scourge of armed robbery which has plagued Ghana over the past few years is now out of control and innocent citizens have lost their lives or are living in fear for their personal safety and security.

A member of the Kaneshie community of the Accra Metropolitan Area, Mr. George Brown, was recently brutally stabbed and hacked to death in his home by an armed robber. Several innocent Ghanaians have already lost their lives due to the brutal activities of armed robbers.

This petition calls upon the Ghana Government, Parliament, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General. Minister of Local Government & Rural Development, Minister of Greater Accra Regional , the IGP, and Mayor of AMA, Parliamentary and Assembly representatives to develop and implement strategies to more effectively protect the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.

Specifically, we call on the Minister of Local Government and Rural Government to determine how the provisions of Section 3 (3) of the Local Government Act of 1993 can be used to more effectively organise local area councils within the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly areas in order to improve the safety and security of Ghana's communities.

http://www.epa.gov.gh/ghanalex/acts/Acts/LOCAL%20GOVERNMENT%20ACT,1993.pdf

Section 3 (3) of the Local Government Act authorizes the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to establish (a) sub-metropolitan district councils; (b) urban or zonal councils; (c) town and area councils; and (d) unit committees.

We recommend that the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development consider establishing "Area Councils" within the sub-metropolitan areas of the AMA and other municipalities to work closely with the Ghana Police's "Community Police Unit" (CPU) to address community security and other needs. The "Area Councils" can work with the CPU to develop "Neighborhood Watch Programs" that can deploy proactive strategies to help reduce or eliminate the activities of armed robbers who now operate with impunity.

Second, there appears to be an acute imbalance in the ratio of police stations and police personnel to areas and populations served in the Accra Metropolitan area. For instance, the area and population that is now served by the Kaneshie Police Station is too large for the police to effectively undertake law enforcement activities. Therefore, we ask that the Ghana Government seriously consider reviewing the ratio of police stations to areas and populations served in order to remedy the imbalance by building and equipping more police stations; and recruiting and training more police officers to ensure more effective law enforcement.

We hope and expect that the Ghana Government, parliamentarians, municipal and police leaders will treat this petition with great urgency to reduce the loss of human lives and heightened sense of insecurity; and increase community security and social interaction. Thanks in advance for your kind consideration of this petition!

Respectfully signed by,