EASTERN Region, the third most populous political entity after the Ashanti and Greater Accra regions, has for some time now been experiencing crime.
Its thriving municipalities such as Koforidua, the capital, Akyem Oda, Nkawkaw, Asamankese as well as towns like Suhum, Somanya, Akropong-Akuapem, which have large concentration of people, are associated with all sorts of crimes.
These include armed robbery, murder, rape and defilement, fraud and petty thefts involving food crops such as plantain, cassava, livestock and poultry.
Another crime in the region that normally occurs in the municipalities involves tricksters, popularly known as “419”, who manage to trick people to part with various sums of money.
The crime-prone areas include Okorase, Mile 50, Asokorekuma, Nyamekrom, all new settlements within the New Juaben Municipality, Nsukwao and the business area of Koforidua, also in New Juaben, and big towns such as Oda, Somanya, Akropong and Nkawkaw.
Other worrying issues are chieftaincy disputes in some of the traditional areas, disputes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, especially in the Kwahu area and fatal motor accidents that continue to claim life.
Differences that occasionally arise among the Muslim community, especially during this year’s Ramadan, are also some of the problems in the area.
Another factor that has led to the increase in the crime rate is the large number of ex-convicts from other parts of the country who are periodically released from the country’s premier prison at Nsawam, and other prisons at Akuse, Koforidua and in the Kwahu North District (Afram Plains), all located within the region.
These ex-convicts, who do not normally go to their home towns after gaining their freedom, continue to live in the region to involve in more criminal activities.
Such issues have, therefore, been a big challenge to the police in the region whose ratio per inhabitant is not far from the national ratio of one policeman to about 1,000 people, thus putting severe pressure on the force.
To effectively tackle the crime wave, the Police Administration in the region under the command of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Anko-Bil, has instituted a number of measures to rid the communities of criminals and make the area safe for habitation.
The measures, which were vigorously enforced, particularly from April, this year, include intensification of police patrols, especially at night, mounting of barriers at entry points to Koforidua and periodic raids in the hideouts of suspected criminals.
The recent acquisition of the Gota, a special communication gadget (walkie-talkie), for the police officers to enhance communication, and the inauguration of a rapid police deployment force, have contributed significantly in tracking down criminals and reduced crime in the communities.
For instance, in the first half of 2007, 48 people were murdered as against 30 this year, while narcotic cases (wee) went down from 72 to 48, rape from 74 to 23, defilement from 122 to 72, all within the same period.
Armed robbery, however, increased slightly from 32 to 36 within the stipulated period. The most interesting aspect of such a heinous crime such as the armed robbery is that most of the robbers have been arrested and are being tried at the law courts.
“Apart from this, we recently resolved the differences between the traditional authorities and the Saviour Church at Osiem, as well as trying to resolve the impasse among the Moslem community in Koforidua which occurred during this Ramadan. Both parties are, however, co-operating on the issue,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
With regard to motor accidents, the region continues to encounter such problems. Between January and August, 2007, as many as 790 accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles were recorded, during which 168 people lost their lives, with 1,038 sustaining various degrees of injury.
The figure increased within the same period this year with 807 motor accidents, involving 1,038 vehicles, of which 166 died and 1,055 injured.
According to ACP Anko-Bil, the unfortunate situation could be attributed to a significant increase in the number of vehicles in the region and others from various parts of the country, which use the region’s stretch of the main Accra-Kumasi highway.
To reduce such traffic accidents to the barest minimum, the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Police Service has been vigorously conducting checks on the roads. It also teams up with the Road Safety Commission to periodically organise durbars to educate drivers and the general public on road safety.
On political activities, the police have made the necessary preparations to deal with any situation that has the potential to disturb the relative peace being enjoyed in the country before, during and after the December 7 general election.
“There are 500 policemen on standby, ready to go to identified flash points or trouble spots in the area, and with the assistance of other security agencies, we can double or even triple the number of our men in such places,” ACP Anko-Bil said.
“Although we have made a significant breakthrough in fighting crime, we are not resting at all, both officers and men are on the alert ready to flush out the criminals in their hideouts at any time. So we appeal to members of the public to bear with us whenever we conduct unexpected operations in their communities,” ACP Anko-Bil stated.
To complement efforts being made by the police, ACP Anko-Bil is of the view that neighbourhood watch committees should be formed in all the communities with active participation from the youth.
He stressed the need for people to be prepared to volunteer information on criminals to the police who would treat the issue confidential in order not to expose such informants to danger.
The municipal and district assemblies must also come to the rescue of their people by improving the lighting system in the communities, especially the crime-prone areas, while landlords and workers must also team up to engage watchmen in their areas.
ACP Anko-Bil emphasised that if such measures were adhered to coupled with the able manner in which the commanders in the six divisions, namely Akosombo, Akropong, Nkawkaw, Kyebi, Koforidua and Akyem Oda, were discharging their duties, the region would in the near future become one of the safest places in the country.
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