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Kidnapping is not a new phenomenon – Interior Minister

By
Gifty Amofa, GNA,

Accra, Oct. 31, GNA-
Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister of Interior, has commended the Criminal
Investigations Directorate (CID) for helping reduce kidnapping cases in the
country.

“I hear people
trying to make kidnapping a new phenomenon. It is not new. Ghana for the past
eight years had recorded 504 kidnaping cases between 2011 and 2019,” he noted.

He was addressing
Regional, Divisional and District Crime Officers at the opening of a two-day
annual conference dubbed “Addressing the challenges of contemporary
investigations for effective prosecution; the role of investigators”.

Mr Dery said in
2013, there were 77 reported cases, 2014 had 76 whereas 2018 chalked 58 and
2019 has scored 47 so far and noted that effective investigations revealed that
21 of the 2019 cases were false, reducing the number to 26.

The Member of
Parliament for Nandom giving the breakdown, said Accra recorded six,
Ashanti-five,  Brong Ahafo-four and two
in the Western Regions with 10 out of the suspects standing trial and 17
victims were rescued.

He said the CID had
to be encouraged for the strides made in its improved performance.

Mr Ambrose Dery
urged the officers to come-up with a road map for criminal investigations and
their role as effective crime officers.

He said the onus was
on government to equip them with the requisite knowledge and skills as well as
modern communication tools to enhance their work.

Government was
determined to retool the entire Police Service to enhance professionalism and
improved service delivery, he said.

He said government
was also determined to create a responsive, effective and accountable police
service that would work to expectations of all stakeholders.

Incentives such as
promotion of personnel from Constable to Chief Inspectors in areas such as the
five regions in the north, Brong Ahafo and Volta, one year ahead of their
colleagues, among others would be done to motivate them.

“Be reminded of your
oath to protect and defend the good people of Ghana and all residents in the
country, your action should not dampen the spirit of the citizens who see you
as their shield against criminals,” he advised.

He urged them not to
relent on their responsibilities irrespective of the challenges and be ready to
tackle new trends of crimes, head-on as there would be refresher courses to
help handle them.

Mr Dery said crime
investigators played a special role in the criminal justice system, so they
should conduct proper investigations for justice to prevail rather than letting
criminals of the hook at the end of the day.

The Minister said
though they may be “demonized” in carrying out their duties, they should not
give up as they were serving humanity, adding that government would ensure they
were all motivated.

They should up their
game in the gathering, processing and analyzing data as far as criminal
investigations were concerned, he added.

Mr Dery urged them
to be innovative and collaborate with those in academia for support in the
course of their duty as well as share their experiences to enrich their work.

Mr James Oppong
Boanuh, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) said the officers would take
stock of their practices, identify gaps and finds best practices going forward.

He said the only
remedy to address organized and violent crimes depended on quality detectives
and their ability to investigate and prosecute criminal cases.

The IGP said his
administration would complement government’s effort by reducing violent and
organized crime to consolidate internal peace and security.

Commissioner of
Police (COP) Mrs Maame Yaa Tiwaah Addo-Danquah, the Director General for CID,
asked the crime officer to properly investigate cases to help save innocent
persons.

“As part of our
commitment to serve Ghana better, we together with the University of Cape Coast
Department of Forensics have come up with a crime scene training manual as a
guide to investigators”.

Mrs Yvonne Atakora
Obuobisa, the Director of Public Prosecutions, advised the officers to network
with other security agencies locally and abroad to make their work easier.

They should not
allow the media to coerce them into giving information that would hinder their
investigations. 

Chief
Superintendents of Police Mr Sampson Agbeko and Mr Reynolds Manteaw, the Crime
Officers of Upper East and West, respectively, were recognized and would be
presented with laptop computers for their outstanding performance.

The IGP was also
presented with a portrait of himself by Peace Watch Ghana for his commitment so
far.

GNA

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