Dr. Jones Opoku-Ware, a criminologist and senior lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has expressed concern over the recent surge in cases of missing persons who are later found dead.
According to Dr. Opoku-Ware, the surge is troubling due to the similar patterns exhibited by most of these murders, particularly those involving dumped bodies.
He noted that these patterns suggest the presence of hardened criminals seeking to instill fear and insecurity in the country.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Dr. Opoku-Ware stated that the consistency in these murder patterns indicates the existence of a significant threat.
He is personally worried due to the lack of proactive action from the Police, leading to increased anxiety and apprehension among the public.
“What is happening is troubling because when you have a pattern of murders that are very related—when you examine the murders, particularly the ones where bodies have been dumped over the past three weeks—it shows a similar pattern. Immediately you have a very consistent pattern of murders over a period, it means that there are some bad guys on the loose who have decided to instill some form of fear and insecurity in the system.”
“I am personally worried because these cases are one too many, and we seem not to have seen any prompt and concrete action from the Police. So, a lot of people are anxious and apprehensive,” he told host Kwabena Agyapong.
Dr. Opoku-Ware explained that the absence of prompt responses from security agencies can create a fear of crime, which he believes is currently prevalent among Ghanaians.
“In crime studies, we have what we call ‘fear of crime,’ which states that when there is a surge in crime and we don’t have any prompt response from the security agencies, it creates fear of crime. I am seeing that among Ghanaians. People are currently anxious and wonder if they would be able to return home safely when they step out.”
He further explained that the lack of a strong response from security agencies emboldens these criminals.
“It looks like these criminals can do whatever they want without any reactions from the security agencies. This is why when you have consistent crimes such as these and no response from the Police, these criminals are emboldened to engage in more criminal activities.”
He emphasised the necessity for security agencies to analyze patterns and proactively address the challenge.
He notified the Police that a discernible pattern exists in these murders, warranting a thorough examination through pattern analysis due to the consistency in modus operandi.
This analysis would enable the Police to conduct precise pin mapping and apprehend the criminals. However, the lack of prompt response from the Police is allowing these criminals to continue their nefarious activities. The efficacy of the security agencies’ response will determine whether these crimes can be attributed to the perpetrators, as delays only grant them more time to cover their tracks,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
