The National Democratic Congress (NDC) member of Parliament for Atebubu/Amantin in the Bono East Region, Sanja Nanja, has called on the Inspector General of Police and the Police administration to swiftly beef up the police personnel in the area to effectively combat the increase in highway robbery in the constituency.
He also called on the police administration, and for that matter the government, to address the logistical constraint of the local police command to deal with the menace, which he said had negatively affected the local economy and all aspects of human life in the constituency.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Nanja said his interaction with the police hierarchy within the constituency, through the regional command, had revealed that to effectively combat the menace it would require four additional strong pickups, 20 motorbikes, 60 ballistic helmets, 60 bulletproof vests, 20 radio sets, 20 crash barricades, 30 junior officers and two service drivers.
He said the mainstay of the people of Atebubu/Amantin and its adjoining constituencies, Pru East, Pru West, Sene East and Sene West, was farming and fishing but the highway robberies had adversely affected commercial activities in the area as those who patronised their products were afraid to buy.
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Robbery cases
Mr Nanja said from 2022 to 2024 the local police command recorded 88 highway robberies, with last year alone recording 50 out of the total cases while this January has already recorded more than four cases.
He said the robbers in recent times had besieged the major roads such as the Kumasi- Ejura -Atebubu-Yeji and Atebubu-Kwame-Danso highways that led to major market centres at Atebubu, Amantin, Yeji, Prang, Kwame Danso and Kajaji, which were patronised by people from all over the country while some feeder roads were also not spared.
”Apart from forcefully taking physical cash from their victims, they snatch every valuable item found on the victims such as mobile phones and motor bikes,” Mr Nanja said.
“They (robbers) often open fire not only into moving vehicles targeting drivers and riders who especially, do not comply with their instructions but also exchange fire with the security personnel on patrol for the purpose of protecting commuters,” he added.
Victims
Mr Nanja said some police personnel had suffered varying degrees of injuries resulting from gunshots by the robbers, adding that two of these police victims were currently undergoing treatment while the condition of one of such officers who was shot on December 7, 2024 while returning from election duties with election officials from a polling station after the polls had closed, was in a critical condition at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
“In spite of the efforts of the police in containing the situation, it is sad to note that the residents sometimes try to vent their anger and frustration on them in the perception that they are not putting up their best,” the MP said.
He said there was a demonstration by some drivers and youth in Atebubu following the shooting and killing of a 75-year-old driver by these highway robbers to draw stakeholders’ attention to the worrying situation.
Unfortunately it ended in a clash between the demonstrators and the police which resulted in the damage of two old police patrol vehicles and office equipment.
The robbers, he said, mostly operated late at night, and some instances during the day creating fear and anxiety among residents and those who plied the highway.
