The frightening streets of Ghana: Is safety slipping away?
For a long time now, Ghana has been considered a peaceful and safe country. The rampant nature of crimes lately has raised concerns, as citizens have expressed their views and thoughts on it. This situation has instilled so much fear and anxiety in the minds of people which lead them to develop mental or maniac symptoms as they live with their trauma.
According to statistics, the country’s crime index this year is 45.35 and it is considered as moderate, but comparing it to 2024 crime index, 2025 ranks higher. Life is no more the same, people are always on defense, thinking the whole world is coming at them. In this case, everyone is seen as an enemy and it tends to affect relationships.
Miss Akweley, a victim of armed robbery has developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and considers anyone on a motorcycle as a criminal. She doesn’t come in contact with sharp items, or tools any anymore because they remind her of the terrible experience she faced.
“I got robbed on my way to work by two guys, and they were holding cutlass and knives. I was warned by them not to shout otherwise, they will hurt me. I gave my bag to them quietly, and immediately they left, I screamed with so much pain unfortunately it was too late,” Miss Akweley said.
Armed robbery is not the only social vice ongoing in the country, people are losing their family members as well, because of the kidnaps by body part harvesters. Some of the citizens even go ahead to share their traumatic experiences online just to inform the public about various tricks the criminals use to get the victim. According to some surviving victims, they explained that, some of the Uber, Yango, Bolt and taxis drivers are also involved in the crimes especially taxi drivers. The taxi drivers may use the door method to easily steal your phone. They make sure your focus is fixed on opening the door, then they open your bag.
Lack of job opportunities, poverty and inequality, and inadequate youth interventions could be part of the root causes, although there are unsubstantiated claims about Nigerians being responsible for the crimes consistently occurring in Ghana.
The government needs to increase security measures in urban areas especially, the law has to be enforced effectively and there should be secret cameras fixed on most of the streets to help Ghanaian citizens catch the culprits.
The writer is a student of UniMAC
BY BEAUTY KEKELI PAKU
