The police say the relationship between the phenomenon of landguards and armed robbery cannot be glossed over since both are a security threat to the nation. Therefore, they have announced a major crackdown over the two – especially against the former.

Director General of the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service ACP David Eklu said officers have been charged with a first intervention of arresting any person found to be guarding lands.

He said the crackdown on the menace of landguards has been very difficult as culprits cannot be arraigned for just guarding land.

But because most of these landguards wield weapons and are engaged in illegal activities, they will henceforth be arrested for “illegal possession of arms, assault among others”.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police told host Winston Amoah that the activities of landguards have always degenerated into violence. “It is going beyond going to guard people’s land.

“It goes into violence,” he stressed, indicating how most people arrested for robbery are said to be landguards. ACP Eklu’s comments come to reinforce a declaration made by the Accra Regional Command last month.

On a familiarisation visit to Media General, Regional Commander DCOP George Alex Mensah stated: “We are going to wage a serious war against landguards; a war the police must win.” “Whether the land belongs to you or not, you are not allowed to use force to protect your land. You have to use legal means.”