The arrest of three persons alleged to have in their possession objects suspected to be explosives at Agape Down, near Ablekuma and Kwashibu, near Lapaz, Accra, last Monday, sent shivers down the spine of many Ghanaians. The news also set many Ghanaians thinking, with some asking the question: are we safe?
In the wake of this latest arrest it is legitimate to ask the question whether we are safe or not? In fact the recent development where some soldiers and police officers of Operation Cowleg in Agogo, Ashanti Region, were attacked and wounded by unknown assailants gives cause for worry.
Rightly so, and more especially when those who are supposed to protect and ensure our safety are rather being attacked. People have assumed that all is well with us and that the ISISs and the Boko Harams cannot find space in this country. Well, such people should re-think and come to terms that Ghana is not immune to these unwanted attacks often carried out by people without conscience.
This is why Today wants to make it clear to our security agencies, particularly the police, whose primary responsibility is to ensure law and order domestically, that it is just not enough to assure us that Ghana is safe. We cannot take such an assurance when we still tend to have robbers robbing in daylight and killing their victims; when are having our security officers being attacked, and; more so when people continue to evade the radar with cache of weapons to various flashpoints in the country.
However, it is good news that the police managed to arrest these three suspects. But one important question still lingering on the minds of many peace-loving Ghanaians is: what about those who we were unable to arrest?
It is for the above reason that Today urges the Police administration to up its game by being more proactive. We believe the best way to fight crime is to prevent it instead of waiting for it to happen.
That also means that government must provide them with the necessary logistics to enable them fight crime even before they happen. The point is that the police must be well equipped to deal ruthlessly with the kind of criminals growing up in this country. These are criminals who do not show mercy on their victims. They do not even think before pulling the trigger to kill their victims after robbing them.
One such sad incident happened recently at Block Factory near Ablekuma, Accra, where a gang of suspected armed robbers, after making away with all the monies in a provision shop, shot and killed the owner as well. Very unfortunate indeed! But that is the reality, which is confronting us as a people.
Furthermore, we are calling on the police to intensify their patrols in communities. The visibility and mobility of the police help largely to avert crimes. And this is something we will encourage our law enforcers to do regularly.
As citizens we must also understand that we have a role to ensure that our country is safe. And this we must do by assisting the police with vital information on criminals and hoodlums within our communities.
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