According to him, the country’s jobless youth are frustrated.

Within the month of February, Citi News reported on close to twenty robbery attacks that led to the loss of lives and properties across the country, with majority of them recorded in the national capital.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bnnHapRcRclvAr2mwLPcaLbLbHxqzrbm”]Speaking to Citi News, the former army general urged government to critically focus on addressing the root cause of the increased robbery which he said was unemployment.

“These people are organized; they are not just rampant robbers, they are serious people who are organized and they know what they are doing so the police need to have good intelligence…I’m saying that they are motivated by the stomach– the empty and the hungry. It is their stomach that is pushing them, they are hungry and I don’t believe that there is any political motivation behind it, I don’t believe it.”

Brigadier General Nunoo-Mensah also said the newly launched ‘Operation Calm life’ initiative by government, will not make any impact.

“We must confront the problem, but in the medium to long term, we must tackle the root causes. We have to sit down and think.  We have to take our time and not to react to what I call knee jerk reactions. Unless we tackle the main cause it will keep coming,” he added.

Robbers on rampage

This week has seen a number of robbery incidents, especially in Accra.

The incidents include one at Tema Industrial Area that saw a Lebanese, gunned down, and GHS 200,000 he had withdrawn from a bank taken.

Forex bureaux and mobile money points have also been major targets in these recent robberies.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu, this week announced that the police arrested a group of suspected robbers believed to be behind attacks on about 20 forex bureaux in the Spintex road area in 2018.

Soldiers to help fight ruthless armed robbers – Gov’t

In response to the heightened insecurity, government has said that it’s ‘Operation Calm Life’ initiative, which has seen a collaboration between the police and military personnel providing security in parts of the country, will be given a boost.

It also announced several other initiatives all in a bid to improve security.

‘We’re ready to die’

Despite these attacks some of which have also been recorded in Accra and Tema, COP George Akufo Dampare, who was Director of Operations until on Thursday when he was reassigned to the Research and Planning unit of the Police Service, has said although his outfit is logistically deficient, they are ready to put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of every Ghanaian.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, Dampare also noted that the support of the citizens will go a long way to help the Police Service combat the increasing rate of crime in the country.

“We want to give them [citizens] the assurance that we will go every length, including losing our lives to make them safe. We understand that we are not there yet, in terms of the full complement of our equipment. We also understand that over the years, government after government has made an attempt to bring us to a particular level in terms of equipment,” he said.

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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nunoo-Mensah blames robberies on high unemployment appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

While calling for calm, the police in a statement signed by the Director-General of Police Public Affairs, ACP David Eklu, said they are on the heels of the criminals perpetrating such heinous crimes.

The statement also said a number of arrests have been made in relation to recent robberies cases.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1bA6sSNu6Mxk98AACaEBOEH3dED4HwI3″]“We wish to assure the public that, the Police are on the heels of these criminals, while deploying men and the resources to protect lives and property. Nine people have so far been arrested in connection with the Forex Bureau and Money transfer robberies in Accra. In addition, two people are in custody in respect of the industrial area robbery that occurred at Kaneshie this morning and area assisting the police in their investigations,” the statement added.

The police said they are also discussing with the Bank of Ghana in a bid to identify better ways of enhancing security for mobile money and Forex Bureax operators in the country.

Robbery cases on the rise

Two separate day light robbery cases were recorded in Accra on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, one in North Kaneshie and the other one at Royal Motors in Accra.

In the case of Royal Motors, the robbers stormed the premises of the automobile company and made away with huge sums of money believed to be the company’s sales for the day.

Some residents of Oyibi and surrounding areas in Accra have lamented about increased robbery attacks in those areas.

Some nine robbers according to the police have been arrested for attacking some 20 forex bureaux in the Spintex road.

The police also said two persons have been arrested in connection with the North Kaneshie robbery.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post We’ve intensified patrols over increased robbery cases – Police appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.