Reducing crime: Track activities of irregular migrants, provide reintegration models for ex-convicts- CCF Boss to gov’t

The Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng has attributed high crime rates in the country to the increase in irregular migration.

He said most irregular migrants are fingered in many criminal activities in the country hence the need to turn attention to the situation.

Mr. Kwarteng said this when he was making a statement on the murder incident at Mankessim.

Speaking to JoyNews, Mr. Kwarteng indicated that security agencies especially the police have not been proactive in doing their job.

Stating some factors that have contributed to the high crime rate, urged the police to track the activities of irregular migrants.

“Much as the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of People among member states has its positives, it has opened the floodgates for some irregular migrants to engage in criminal activities,” he said.

Mr. Kwarteng who doubles as the Ambassador Extraordinaire of Ghana Prisons also indicated that many ex-convicts are forced back into engaging in criminal activities because they have not been properly re-integrated into society.

He said the situation is a threat to the security of the country.

“There are too many ex-convicts out there who have not been properly integrated. Government must find reintegration programmes for ex-convicts so that they are not idle because the devil finds work for idle hands. The Inspector General of Police seems to have gone to sleep. He must wake up to his job to curb crime. Police visibility must also be increased,” he held.

“Social Welfare must be seen to be doing its job but unfortunately they are not equipped enough to be able to execute its mandate. If you go to their office they do not have even chairs to sit on,” he added.

Mr. Kwarteng has been carrying out crime prevention advocacy through his ‘Time With The Prisoner’ and ‘Stay Away From Trouble’ programmes in a bid to help curb crime.

By Rudolph Nandi