Tema: Some residents of Tema Community One have called for enhanced security measures and increased police presence in the community to avert the incidence of increased thefts in the area.

According to Ghana News Agency, the thieves steal any item they can lay their hands on and resell. Some of the items include mobile phones, wallets, handbags, and household goods, they said.

Miss Tracey Esi Quayson, an administrator with a private firm, who was a victim of a recent theft, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the community was no longer a safe place, creating anxiety and uneasiness among residents and visitors alike. ‘I used to feel safe walking home, but now I’m always looking over my shoulder, especially at night,’ she said.

Miss Quayson stated that some police officials do not acknowledge these concerns and rather blame individuals when such occurrences happen. ‘That night of the incident, a police officer was there but didn’t help; he was rather insulting and blaming me for not being cautious,’ she alleged. She suggested that the police officials should work with community leaders to establish neighbourhood watch programmes and improve communication channels to avoid theft incidents.

Mr Israel Gadagbui, another resident, stated that those incidents were not just about the loss of property but also about the feeling of insecurity. He, however, explained that the rise in those thefts could be due to economic hardship, unemployment, and inadequate security infrastructure, and therefore appealed for government support and investment in job creation programmes to address the root causes of the problem. ‘People are struggling to make ends meet; desperate times call for desperate measures, unfortunately,’ he said.

Miss Priscilla Asante, another resident, emphasized that community members should be vigilant and cautious and avoid displaying valuable things that could be stolen, especially at night.