Social Media Users Roast IGP Over Crime Comment

Ghanaians on social media have taken the Inspector-General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, to the cleaners for his comment on crime in the country.

The IGP downplayed the crime rate in the country following a series of fatal armed robbery attacks, including the murder of a cop.

“We are doing what we can to protect the people of Ghana. There is no society in the world where there is no crime. Even in the UK, US, and Sweden, where they more or less have everything, they still have crime. The only place that doesn’t have crime is heaven, and we are not in heaven,” he said.

He was reacting to criticisms from security analysts with some calling for his resignation after the death of a cop.

The deceased police officer and a woman were shot dead during a heist on a Mon-Tran bullion van on Monday, June 14, 2021, in Accra.

Three armed robbers on a motorcycle trailed the van and shot the policeman protecting the vehicle in the head.

Violent crimes have increased in the past weeks.

On June,11,2021, a 43-year-old man, Richard Bokor, was arrested by the Achimota Police for attempted robbery on the GIMPA road in Accra.

According to police, the suspect smashed the side glass of a vehicle in an attempt to rob its occupant.

This arrest brings to four the number of suspected robbers arrested on the stretch in one week, following several complaints of robbery attacks by road users.

On Wednesday, June,9,2021, two armed men broke into a forex bureau near Honeysuckle in Osu in broad daylight.

On the same day, a 34-year-old man was robbed and shot at Pigfarm.

He was pursued by two armed men on a motorbike at the Pigfarm roundabout.

He was shot in the stomach after disclosing to the robbers he had no valuables in his backpack. Currently, the unidentified victim is receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.

Despite the attacks, Mr Oppong-Boanuh has asked Ghanaians to lower their expectations because crime is experienced everywhere.

His response did not sit well with a section of Ghanaians with several social media users pouring out their anger on various online platforms.

“If the IGP read Rev.12:6-12, he may come back to tell us that even in heaven there’s a crime. When fatigue minds govern you, these are expected answers to prevailing challenges,” a Facebook user posted.