Media hype of crime induces fear in the country – Kwesi Ofori

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwesi Ofori, has stated that of late the media hype of crime in the country does not necessarily suggest that there is an increase in crime but serves as a conduit in spreading fear among the citizenry of Ghana.

He pointed out that the country can boast of more than 300 media houses in the country which scavenge on the gruesome cases of crime that induce the fear of crime in the public to the point of being afraid in their own comfort zones such as neighborhoods and even when they go out.

ACP Ofori said that is why the Public Affairs Unit and community policing comes in to educate people on security on how to conduct themselves and how to live to avoid criminals in the country.

He said even though the police service has been doing all these to alleviate the fears of crime among the citizenry, the fear-riddled thinking still persists.

To this, he assured the general public that the new Inspector General of Police is determined to resource the police service in order to adequately nip crime in the bud.

ACP Ofori pointed out that crime fighting is not a one-sided duty but a symbiotic relationship between the police and the general public in order to succeed.

He said combating crime is a shared responsibility which the police will play its part actively and thus require the general public to do the same to fight crime in the country.

ACP Ofori said this at the Thought Leadership Forum: Examining Security In Ghana, Options For Action on Thursday, August 12, at the Executive Theatre of TV3.

“Of late some of the media hype does not necessarily depict that there is an increase in crime but some of the crimes are so worrying and disturbing. Let us not forget that we have more than 300 media houses, though not accurate but more than, from the ordinary man’s perspective, they will all hype these kind of stories and at the end of it you will see people experiencing fear of crime even in their own environs they are afraid and even when they go out”, he charged at the forum.

He added “that is why the Public Affairs Unit, the community policing comes in to educate people on security on how to conduct themselves, how to live to avoid criminals. And we have been doing all these for the common good of society but the people’s court, the thinking of the people still persist and what they expect from their police is to do more for them and I can assure you that that the present Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare is so determined to take the police to another level. He is so determined that the police are going to win the war against violent criminals like robbers, kidnappers and others”. Read Full Story