Robberies & Killings Could Be Political – Rawlings

Former President Jerry John Rawlings is ‘smelling a rat’ in the recent upsurge of violent armed robbery cases across the country and has expressed hope that they are not politically motivated so as to undermine the security of the country.

“Let us hope the recent robbery and killings is downright plain robbery and not a politically motivated action from within or without, calculated to undermine those in charge of the security machinery in order to pave the way for certain parochial ambitions,” Jerry Rawlings noted on his official Twitter handle on Thursday.

Jerry Rawlings continued: “The security agencies owe us the responsibility of keeping the nation safe. Let us all confront his menace with utmost confidence and professionalism while ensuring that no one, high or low takes advantage of our vulnerabilities.”

The former President made the comment at time daredevil armed robbers are on rampage and operating with unbridled confidence even in broad day light.

The situation was alarming to an extent that President Akufo-Addo had to cut short a foreign trip and return to the country to jaw-jaw with security chiefs on the way forward.

On Thursday, government announced there has been a reshuffle within the top administrative structure of the Ghana Police Service and a new unit, ‘Police Intelligence’, established.

It said some ten senior police officers including Director-General of Operations, George Akuffo Dampare have been reassigned.

Interestingly, a security expert, Dr. Kwesi Aning of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre has downplayed the reshuffle

“Changing the men does not help when you don’t have enough and when our ability to resolve crime is just 6 percent,” Dr. Aning told Joy FM’s Evans Mensah.