By Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, attributes the decrease in highway robberies, kidnappings, and other high-profile crimes in the region to the effective strategies implemented by the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC).
Despite the region’s previous reputation for high crime rates, Mr. Osei-Mensah asserted during a media engagement on Monday regarding the state of security and judiciary in the region that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of residents in the Ashanti region.
The minister assured the region of enhanced security, highlighting that his administration has provided the necessary infrastructure and logistics for justice and security delivery.
He revealed that 22 court facilities and 48 accommodation facilities for judges within the region have been commissioned.
“The infrastructure is giving them peace. They have a very good environment to work. So, it has led to an improvement in justice delivery in the region. Previously, you could hear, oh, this case has taken too long. That case has taken too long. However, the time for adjudication of most of these issues has been shortened. And that complaint is coming down. I’m not saying it’s gone, but it’s coming down.”
“And again, the achievement, the security sector, I’m sure the provision of infrastructure and some logistics as well as, the increase in the numerical strength of the security personnel has all contributed into achieving what we have now,” he stated.
The minister also noted a substantial augmentation in security personnel and underscored the provisioning of essential equipment to enhance their operations as a pivotal measure being enacted.
“When it comes to the security sector, which has increased by 5,108, from the level of about, 6,000 something went up beyond 12,000. They’re giving a difference of about 5,108…I don’t think any country can solve all security challenges, but at least we’ve been able to bring all those challenges down to the barest minimum.
“…Women were being raped and then people being killed annually, crop farms being destroyed, crashes between cattle herds, and then food crop farmers. All those things were a major challenge in this region. And anybody who sees the truth, who wants to be truthful to him or herself, will tell you that that problem has been reduced to the barest minimum. Say that now, they can even produce enough plantain and then export some to Burkina Faso,” he stated.
