MURDERS MUST END

Ghana is now facing an increase in murder cases, which leaves citizens in a state of fear. Death is a normal chapter in a person’s life, but tragically, some people die before their time owing to the actions of others.

According to Ambrose Dery, the Interior Minister, 144 murder cases were reported in the first quarter of 2021, from January to March. This figure is likely to be higher than the previous year’s figure of 123 instances in the first quarter of 2020.

Normally, the number would fall following the first quarter report, but this is not the case. The number of murders continues to rise. The Statistics Research and Monitoring Unit (SRMU) of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service reports 306 murder cases from January 2021 to June 2021 for the first half of the year 2021.

According to their data, 313 instances were recorded; 261 men and 52 females, however 306 were determined to be murder following their investigations. These victims range in age from 0 to over 40. So far, every area in the nation has registered murder cases, with Ashanti leading the way, followed by the Greater Accra region and then Eastern region, according to data.

All of these incidents do not include those who died on the roadways, since the National Traffic Safety Commission reported 2,126 cases of people who perished in road accidents from January to September 2021.

Innocent individuals are confronted with these killings as armed robbers invade the streets, in carrying on their criminal activities; ‘sakawa boys’ sacrificing their close friends and loved ones for get-rich-quick money rituals. Some of the killings happen for no apparent reason.

People impacted by the murders, such as family and friends, are emotionally, mentally, and physically damaged and are sometimes unable to carry on with their normal lives.

”They (Ismael and his sister) go to Islamic school on Saturdays, but he was home because his father had returned from a trip. He was playing a game outside on his laptop while I was taking a nap; his sister came running to me to tell me his brother had been killed. The police were informed and they came to the scene. My son has wrong no one.” That was the mother of a 10-year-old kid who was tragically slain by two young boys. The poor mother was distraught, and this was one of the cases reported this year. Some of these killings like Ishmael’s was carried out ostensibly for money rituals. There is a suspicion that these murders also have links with the practice of occultism, in which practitioners are believed to use human organs as sacrifices. Individuals engaged in trading of human parts are believed to operate at various unidentified locations around the country. Now, Ghana’s reputation for hospitality and safety may be taking a hit in the presence of these murders.

Richard, a sports writer and footballer, murdered three adolescent players in Abesim

and some of their parts were discovered in his refrigerator.

On a few occasions, foreigners have fallen victim to this tragedy. Syed Taalay Ahmed, 31, of the United Kingdom, was murdered while filming a documentary in the country’s north. This particular case shows the insecure state of the country to the world.

Such heinous crimes give the country an image of insecurity, contrary to the reality. Approximately 80% of these murders remain unsolved. “Ghana as a country has not done well in recent years when it comes to solving crime, particularly murders and robberies.” “I’m doing a certain work where I’m looking at murder cases from 2000 and trust me, I have chronicled a number of murder cases and as of now, almost % of these murders have not been resolved,” Evans Mensah, a Criminologist, disclosed on Accra-based Joy News’ “Joy News’ PM Express.”

Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare (PhD), the Inspector General of Police, has implemented a number of strategies to combat these crimes, including requiring officers to utilize horses in their operations to avoid officers having difficulty covering large areas. With these measures, the situation is expected to improve in the near future. Citizens are waiting with bated breath for an improvement in the crime situation.