Armed robbery and a Nation at large

By Helena Selby
There is popular biblical saying which goes “the hand that does not work must not eat.” It is a fact that reward is attributed to those who are willing to work very hard for their survival. It overwhelming to know that someone who has spent years to acquire wealth, through toil and hard work, can be stripped off his wealth by another man within a blink of an eye, at gun point. Which in this case is the hands which have worked very hard, will not get the opportunity to enjoy the fruit of its labour, but rather the one who has no idea how the labour was really like. No wonder it is always said that the world is so unfair. Robbery or armed robbery, no doubt, is not a new thing in society, but a normal phenomenon. However, its alarming increase has made it an issue of much concern.
Ghanaian values and armed robbery
Robbery is one of the social vices, which every society, and the world is trying to get rid of. Ghana, despite its traits of hospitality, has turned into a hideout and a den for robbers, especially armed robbers. According to sources, and reported robbery cases in Ghana, most suspects come from neighboring countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, La Cote d’Ivoire and others. About four years ago, when robbery was out of control in the country, it was believed that the capture of one suspected armed robber could decrease its occurrence, but all to no avail, just like the hydra-headed monster, cut one off and another takes its place.
Nobody wishes to be related to an armed robber, as no one knows when that person would be finally caught by the law, and the accompanying humiliation does not only befall the person, but also the relations. In Ghana, a family with a history of robbery, more often than not, brings misfortune upon the members in terms of marriage. Traditionally and customarily, there is a belief that when one gets into a marriage relationship with anyone from a family with a record of robbery, the probability of the trait exhibiting itself in descendants is high. In some cases also, the family with a robbery record loses respect in the eyes of society. Society is very particular over virtues and manners, so this kind of social vice in a family is often kept secret.
Robbery incidences in Ghana
In most of reported cases, the suspects are always not less than three. They sometimes go to the extreme of even killing, or maiming someone, with either a gun or sometimes a cutlass/knife. Though not a good idea, mob justice is mostly occurs whenever there is a robbery and the suspect is caught by the public, which eventually ends up killing suspects who have not been proven innocent or guilty. In as much there are values existing to prevent these social vices, modernity seems to be drifting people’s attention of the necessity of it. Love for money, and the ambition of getting rich without effort, has made the society rather very unsafe to even keep legally acquired property. Not long ago, a man and his family were monitored from the airport and robbed of their possessions in their home at Mallam, a suburb of Accra. Some even go to the extent of cutting electric cables at night when unfortunately the power goes off, others do same to telephone cables, and sell them off as copper. Some give the impression that there is blackout by disconnecting the main cable, and afterwards cut and convey away long lengths of these cables.
These robbers have also taken their unholy acts to the banks and financial institutions, which even have armed security personnel guarding them.
In the mid- part of last year, there was a broad daylight robbery at a bank in Madina, a suburb of Accra.
Other robbers have also taken to the roads and highways, especially the long distance commercial vehicles. This anomaly usually occurs in the areas between the middle-belt of the country and the north. These robbers block the highways, force commercial vehicles, especially passenger ones and deprive the passengers of the possessions, and also visit extreme atrocities on them like rape and serious bodily injuries.
Some also pretend to be commercial drivers and rob their unsuspecting victims halfway through their journey. They pretend the vehicle has developed a fault, stop to repair it and usually have cronies lurking around who come out of hiding and rob the unsuspecting passenger(s).
The commonest of kind of robbery in the country is the snatching and grabbing of mobile phones, digital cameras and ladies handbags. The reason is these items are easy to resell and very difficult to identify.
One of the places where these phones are sold in Accra is at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, popularly known as ‘Circle’. Though report says police often raid the vicinity where these phones are sold, these people return in no time at all to transact their business. It is pitiful that even though people have a full knowledge that many of these phones are stolen, they go ahead and patronise them, regardless of it not having a manual, charger and other accessories.
Armed robbery and a nation
Insecurity and fear has the tendency of emerging in the lives of citizens of a nation full of robbery incidences. People will not have the interest of living in the country they come from. It will interest them to invest outside the country, rather than within. The risk of losing once property within a blink of an eye, can take away the interest of accumulating wealth. Investors and tourists would avoid a country where the incidences of robbery, especially armed robbery. Patriotism is the last thing on their minds.
No nation takes pride in incidences of armed robbery in its cities and towns. Of course it goes as far as tarnishing the reputation of the country. It will be labeled as a very unsafe place to live. To some extent, the tourist industry of the country will be of no use, since people, for the fear of their lives, would not make the attempt to tour the nation. In Ghana, tourism goes a long way in helping to raise the country’s revenue. Imagine, if the situation of armed robbery is not well dealt with, to create a sound environment for the people, then it will be of no use even trying to innovate or create its form of beauty. A nation with great tourist attraction has the ability of its name spreading worldwide through the tourist, and who knows the benefits of such an opportunity. If a country loses its image of tourism, it is like losing its heritage and sense of pride.
Investors
A nation with a high incidence of armed robbery has the probability of driving away potential investors. Security is one of the main priorities of every investor. No investor has the intent of investing in a country with the knowledge that it might go down the drain, due to the poor security system of the country. Not long ago, in the late part of last year, a foreign businessman was reported to have been murdered in the northern part of country, which the suspects are still being investigated.
It is evident that in Ghana employment opportunities are marginally supported by foreign investors, through their numerous investments. What will then be the issue of unemployment, if investors decide not to invest as a result of frequent armed robberies? Investors changing their decision not to invest anymore in the country could go a long way to affecting adversely employment opportunities. In a nut shell, armed robbery has the potential of rendering many Ghanaians jobless.
What about the children who are the future leaders. Street children and orphans most times do not have any choice, than to join these robbers, and do whatever they are asked to do, just to earn their daily bread. As the years go by, there is no doubt that these children would turn into robbers, disturbing the peace of the society.
Conclusion
The Police Service in Ghana is doing a great job. However, there will be the need for them to intensify that great job. Their security system ought to be streamlined, since according to reported cases so far, ammunition used for robbery operations are sometimes from the police. One cannot say emphatically, that the police in a way make the nation a breeding place for robbers, since they are the same people who protect the peace of the society.
It is important for individuals to be vigilant, since one does not know when he or she is being spied on, to be claimed as the next victim. Staying out late should be an issue to be dealt with by the individual, since most of robbery incidences occur at night. For the police there is the need for them to intensify their day and night patrols in neighbourhoods, especially robbery-prone areas, as well as places suspected to the hideouts of robbers. A nation’s development does not only depend on the hard work of the labour force, but the dignity and pride of the nation, can as well project its image into prosperity.