Bern-Switzerland--Swiss chapter of Ghana-Kwahuman Association in Europe voices serious concern over recent increase in crime, notably armed robbery in Ghana and called for immediate steps to salvage the situation.

Citing recent “swift but traumatic robbery operation” on Accra residence of the MP for Lower West Akim, Ms. Gifty Klenam, and other robberies which have led to loss of life and properties, the association re-emphasizes that, insecurity in any sort of form undermines a country’s stability and development.

“ such crime waves, undermines business, scares investors and tourists, threatens life and poverty: therefore, immediate steps should be taken by the authorities to clear the clouds of fear, now hanging on the capital, Accra and other municipalities. We should not allow criminals to control the streets”, it says.

The call is contained in a paper presented to the Ghana Ambassador to Switzerland and Austria, and also Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the UN offices in Geneva, Mrs. Ellen Serwaa Nee-Whang, at a Town hall meeting, near Bern.

The paper, which touched on what it termed as “a boom on teenage-age pregnancy in Ghana” also, raised questions on efforts being made by the government, among others:

1) To integrate entrepreneurship culture into Ghana’s education system 2) And asked whether a legislation is being considered to encourage risk-taking Investments to boost business?

Mr. Henry Nyarko, assistant Financial Controller of the Swiss chapter of the Association and CEO of “Maximum” Fitness Center at Dansoman, a suburb of Accra, presented the paper, after the Moderator, Mr. Patrick Opoku, ruled ‘time-out” to stop the 2- hour quiz session, at the Ghana’s 1st town hall meeting, which attracted a large following.

Security situation in Ghana!

On the disturbing security situation in Ghana, the association says the problem could not (repeat not) be solved entirely through police system, and explained further that “the whole spectrum of Ghana’s social structure, including measures for job creation, unemployment benefits, a healthy minimum wage and also a check on population explosion must be redefined by legislation to reduce hazards of poverty and deprivation.

Touching on business, the paper reminds that entrepreneurship culture, meaning private sector development, “we believe holds the key to Ghana’s economic development”, and quoting economic experts, enumerated some of the benefits as:

1) Economic personal gains 2) Self-employment, leading to creation of jobs 3) Income generation and increased economic growth.

Turning to what it termed as “a boom on teen-age pregnancy”, the association stresses the need for tougher law measures to protect the child from abuse, while intensifying and application and education on family planning programs.

“Talk on education about ‘sex’, and introduction of condoms should not be treated as a form of taboo: the press, the churches and voluntary associations must be involved in a national campaign to educate the public”.

Quoting Psychologists to support its argument, the Association re-echoes that “there are public loss and costs associated with teen child-bearing, a factor which derails a country’s healthy development”.

At the Town Hall itself, when Mr. George Mensah, a Swiss-based Agricultural Investor took the floor, he expressed his displeasure at the rigid Banking Policies in Ghana, in area of bank borrowing to support investment, especially farmers.

Recounting his experiences with some banks in Ghana, amid deafening cheers, Mr. Mensah described their interest rate as “atrocious”, and pointed that, the rigid banking policies must be revamped to support farmers to enable them boost production, thus helping Ghana to become self sufficient in food production.

END From: Kwaku Boatin, Bern