Director, Faculty of Academic Affairs & Research, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Ghana Prof Kwesi Aning has questioned the quality of police intelligence after the arrest of 215 suspected criminals.
Prof Kwesi Aning said if all the 215 suspected criminals are related to the recent bullion van attack in James Town then there is a need for the police to improve the quality of their intelligence.
"If all these people are related to this one crime then it means the quality of police intelligence in terms of getting information needs to be improved because as you all know in any operation the more people get involved the easier it is for the information to leak."
Sharing his expert opinion on the arrest Prof Aning said: "So I'm hoping these guys come from other previous crimes or they have a history with the Ghana Police Service so they just been roped in to provide some extra intelligence.
Prof Aning noted that the Police Service is creating an impression in the media that all the arrested persons are related to the bullion van crime.
"The way in which this has been presented in the media creates an impression that all these 215 people are related to this one singular crime but whatever it is let the police continue to provide the public with the information that they need to continue to feel safe, secure and hopefully to encourage the public also to provide whatever information that they may have.."
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The Accra Regional Police Command has embarked on an enhanced operation in Accra and arrested 215 suspected criminals.
The operation follows recorded cases of violent crimes in Accra, particularly a bullion van attack which led to the killing of a policeman and a woman on Monday, June 14 at Jamestown, the Pig Farm robbery, and the killing of a 43-year-old man, as well as the Honeysuckle forex bureau attack and shooting.
The three-day operation which began on Thursday, June 17, 2021, and ended on Sunday, June 20, 2021, rounded up 17 women amongst the 215 suspects.
The police command in a statement indicated that the ages of the suspects range between 17 and 52 years.
“The areas of focus for the exercise include Korlebu, Tesano, Amasaman, Nima, Dansoman, Abokobi, Accra central, Teshie, Madina, Batsona, Jamestown, Osu and Lakeside. The 3-day operation forms part of efforts to fight violent crimes, drug peddling, and street robberies.â€
“The Police mostly intercepted wrapped narcotics substances, sharp implements, mixtures of concoctions laced with narcotics, tramadol, etc. The operation also targeted and impounded 168 motorbikes, believed to be used in facilitating the robberies.â€
The arrested suspects have been detained and undergoing various levels of screening for possible connection to cases under investigation.
“The Accra Regional Police Command remains resilient and assures members of the public of providing maximum security as it opens its doors for continuous public cooperation and volunteering of useful information in stemming the ties,†the statement added.
Two bullion vans were attacked by robbers at two different places this week. One occurred at Jamestown in Accra, while the other one took place near Gomoa Dominase in the Central Region.
Two persons –a police officer and a trader—lost their lives in the robbery attack at Jamestown, while an unspecified amount of money was stolen by the robbers.
With the incident that occurred in the Central Region, the bullion van crew managed to escape the attack unhurt.
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