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Tag: Bureau of Public Safety

  • Those responsible for Anto-Aboso explosion must be punished – Bureau of Public Safety

    Those responsible for Anto-Aboso explosion must be punished – Bureau of Public Safety

    The Bureau of Public Safety has advocated for the initiation of criminal proceedings against individuals whose actions and negligence played a part in the explosion that took place in Anto-Aboso, located within the Shama District of the Western Region.

    This tragic event unfolded on Sunday, September 10, leading to the regrettable loss of four lives and causing numerous others to suffer from various degrees of injuries.

    In a conversation with Citi News, Nana Yaw Akwada, the executive director of the Bureau of Public Safety, stressed the vital importance of ensuring accountability through legal channels for those responsible for this unfortunate incident.

    “Looking at the extent of destruction and the fact that lives have been lost, we should be looking beyond administrative sanctions of persons whose act of commission or omission may have led to this incident in less than two years after Appiatse.

    “Criminal prosecutions must be pressed against such persons at all costs and people must come to the realisation that willful negligence or inaction that leads to fatal workplace incidents is criminal and must be sanctioned as such.”

    Nana Yaw Akwada also urged for an unbiased assessment of safety protocols at all mining sites across the country to guarantee the implementation of improved safety standards.

    “I will also recommend an immediate independent reassessment to be conducted across all mining sites nationwide with respect to the manufacturing, transportation, storage, and use of explosive materials and I believe that if we take this step, we can certainly make some good strides in today’s occurrences within the mining sector.”

    After preliminary investigations, the Minerals Commission in a press statement issued on Monday, September 11, has revealed that the site of the explosion is a subject of an application by a company with the name Sta Addsams Enterprise.

    The company, the Commission said, has applied for a Restricted Mining Lease for granite.

    The recommendation for the company to be considered for the grant of a formal lease was granted on 20th March 2023.

    According to the Minerals Commission, at the time of the explosion, the company had not been issued a lease by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.

    It is expected that those found culpable will be sanctioned after the completion of a full investigation.

  • Kantamanto fire: Close down shops that avoid electrical wiring audits – BPS to GNFS

    The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has urged the Ghana National Fire Service to close down shops that fail to participate in community fire training and education as well as sanction those who fail to avail themselves of an audit on electrical wiring.

    The BPS’ suggestion comes on the heels of the fire outbreak that razed over 200 shops, destroying goods worth thousands of cedis at Kantamanto in Accra on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.

    Despite the fact that the inferno destroyed several shops and properties, the Ghana National Fire Service was able to douse it after several hours to prevent further loss.

    The GNFS complained of a lack of accessibility to the market, which made their job difficult.

    The Chief of Party at the Bureau of Public Safety, Nana Yaw Akwada, speaking to Class News, said the Ghana National Fire Service must intensify its public education on fire safety and hold traders accountable.

    He also chided city authorities for failing to structure market centers in the cities properly.

  • 2 people died daily from preventable occurrences in the first half of 2022 – Bureau of Public Safety

    The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has disclosed that approximately 2 persons in Ghana died accidentally on a daily basis, in the first half of 2022.

    This was contained in the Ghana Public Safety and Crime Report for the period January-June 2022. The Bureau encapsulated in the report that these death were caused by unintentional means.

    “Preventable deaths (also referred to as accidental/unintentional deaths) recorded in the first half of Y2022 increased by 22% over the same period in Y2021,” with a minimum of two persons dying each day.

    The document cited transportation-related incidents (mainly road traffic crashes) as the leading cause of accidental deaths in the first half of 2022; and deaths increased by 19% over the same period in 2021.

    The Ghana Public Safety and Crime Report (BPS WATCH) broadly categorizes public safety issues into ten categories (index) namely Crime, Violent Crime, Fires/Industrial (Workplace) related incidents, Transportation related incidents, Civil Disturbances, Police Officer Casualties, Police Brutalities, Police Arrests, etc.

    Other details in the report

    The report further indicated that total public safety incidents reported decreased by 0.2% over the same period in Y2021, being a total of 664 events for Y2021 as against 663 events for Y2022.

    Also, total reported deaths monitored scaled up by 9%, from 501 deaths in 2021 to 546 deaths in Y2022.

    In addition, total reported injuries monitored for the period in 2022 increased by over 35% compared to the same period in Y2021.

    Transportation-related events

    Reported transportation-related events, dominated by road crashes, increased by 19% with a 25% increase in fatalities (deaths) compared to the same period in Y2021.

    About the Bureau of Public Safety

    The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) is a registered entity under the laws of Ghana as a Non-Profit Organization with interest in matters of Public Safety and Security, Health and Environment. Founded in 2009 and incorporated in January 2010, the BPS has considerable local and international repute.

    Source: The independent Ghana

  • Deaths associated with crime and public safety issues increased by 9% in the first half of 2022 – Bureau of Public Safety

    The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has revealed that total reported deaths associated with crime and public safety issues for the first half of the year, has scaled up by 9%. This is against data for the same period in 2021.

    According to the Bureau, “501 deaths were recorded in relation to crime and public safety between January and June 2021, against 546, recorded in the same period in 2022.

    This was contained in the Ghana Public Safety and Crime Report for January to June 2022.

    The report broadly categorizes public safety issues into ten categories (index) namely Crime, Violent Crime, Fires/Industrial (Workplace) related incidents, Transportation related incidents, Civil Disturbances, Police Officer Casualties, Police Brutalities, Police Arrests, etc.

    It, however, indicated that total public safety incidents reported decreased by 0.2% over the same period in Y2021, being a total of 664 events for Y2021 as against 663 events for Y2022.

    Also, total reported injuries monitored for the period in 2022 increased by over 35 compared to the same period in Y2021.
    It further indicated that overall reported violent crimes decreased by about 12% in Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021.

    “Reported incidents of murder/manslaughter, armed robbery, and civil disorder for the period of Y2022 decreased over Y2021, at 20%, 19%, and 22% respectively,” it added.

    Reported deaths arising out of violent crimes also increased by 1.2% in Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021.

    Despite the decrease in the number of violent crime incidents, more people continue to fall victim to violent crime activities, leading to an increase in deaths resulting from violent crime activities, the report stated.

    “Reported use of firearms in the commission of violent crimes in Y2022 increased by more than 4% over the same period in Y2021.

    Reported cases of illegal arms trafficking, possession, and unauthorized use increased by over 300% in the first half of Y2022 over the same period in Y2021,” it added.

    It also stated that data monitored showed a 2% increase in reported police arrests for the first half of Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Reported violent crimes dropped by 12% in first half of 2022 BPS report

    The Ghana Public Safety and Crime report has disclosed that overall reported violent crimes in the country declined by about 12% in Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021.

    According to the report issued by the Bureau of Public Safety, reported incidents of murder/manslaughter, armed robbery, and civil disorder for the period of Y2022 decreased over Y2021.

    Giving a breakdown of the figure, the document stated that reported incidents of murder declined by 20%, while armed robbery declined by 19%, and civil disorder by 22% respectively in 2022 compared to the 2021 figure.

    It also mentioned that reported deaths arising out of violent crimes increased by 1.2% in Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021.

    Despite the decrease in the number of violent crime incidents, more people continue to fall victim to violent crime activities, leading to an increase in deaths resulting from violent crime activities.

    Reported use of firearms in the commission of violent crimes in Y2022 increased by more than 4% over the same period in Y2021.

    Also, reported cases of illegal arms trafficking, possession, and unauthorized use increased by over 300% in the first half of Y2022 over the same period in Y2021.

    Data monitored also showed a 2% increase in reported police arrests for the first half of Y2022 compared to the same period in Y2021.

  • Police protection for MPs wrong Bureau of Public Safety

    The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has criticised government over its decision to provide Member (members) of Parliament with armed police guards.

    According to BPS, the decision will impact on how security services in the country execute their duties.

    It noted with concern that the practise will expose the vulnerable in society since the security agencies will focus on a privilege few instead of the masses.

    Though it fell short of describing (the move as short-sighted) as a short-sighted move, BPS said that the decision sends a wrong message to the populace.

    The Executive Director of BPS, Nana Yaw Akwada told Citi News that “the commitment he [Ambrose Dery] has made actually reduces national security which aims at providing security for the general population and offering such security to politicians and men of power.”

    “By so doing he has left the security of the ordinary Ghanaian to his vulnerable state. This is appalling, offensive, indescent (indecent). This single decision sends a wrong signal to the many lives which have been lost a (in) similar fashion,” he said.

    On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, Interior Minister Ambrose Dery announced that 200 police officers will be despatched to guard MPs till next year. The officers according to Ambrose Dery will operate under the Parliamentary Protection Unit.

    “Due to the retooling of the security agencies by President Akufo-Addo, the country has more security agencies and security personnel available. So, we have proposed that, between now and the end of the year, we are going to provide an additional 200 police personnel to be part of the parliamentary protection unit. We are making this arrangement to ensure that the unit attains the status of divisional police command to take care of the Members of Parliament as bodyguards.”

    It comes on the back of calls by MPs for improved protection following the murder of Mfantseman MP Ekow Quansah Hayford.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • West Africa accounts for 90% of all sea kidnappings

    The West African coast is becoming increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping, according to a new report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

    It says that 90% of all kidnappings at sea happen in that region.

    In the last three months alone, 32 crew were kidnapped in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Most of the vessels were attacked on the high seas, between about 20 and 130 nautical miles off the coast, the IMB said.

    It found that attacks on commercial ships and the kidnapping of crew members had been on the rise in recent times in West Africa.

    It has become common for crews to be attacked by bandits armed with knives and guns, IMB director Michael Howlett says.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Communication on foiled coup attempt inadequate, poor Bureau of Public Safety

    The Bureau of Public Safety has rejected government communication on a purported foiled attempt to destabilize the country.

    In a statement released by the Bureau said: “The (Security) communication is poor and does not assure public safety as more questions remain unanswered.”

    The government through the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Monday issued a statement detailing how a joint security operation of personnel drawn from Defence Intelligence, CID and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), conducted a successful operation which led to the arrest of three persons and the retrieval of several arms, explosive devices and ammunition from locations in Accra and Bawaleshie near Dodowa.

    Read:Violent crimes on the rise in Ghana Bureau of Public Safety

    The joint operation was to neutralize an elaborate plot targeted at the Presidency, and with the ultimate aim of destabilizing the country. The arrest and seizure come after fifteen (15) months of surveillance and gathering of evidence on the activities of the prime suspects and others.

    The persons arrested are Dr. Frederick Yao Mac-Palm and his two accomplices Mr. Ezor Kafui (a local weapon manufacturer) and Mr. Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu (aka BB or ADC).

    The following items were retrieved as part of the operation: 5 x locally manufactured pistols with magazines fitted on, 1 x foreign pistol (Reg. No. PX154006) with 2 Xmagazines, 3 x locally manufactured pistol barrels, 3 x smoke grenades, 22 x Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 9 x 7.62mm NATO AK47 rounds, 2 x AK47 magazines, 1 x long Knife and 63 x 9mm NATO rounds.

    Read:Independent body needed to address police-public mistrust Bureau of Public Safety

    Below is the full statement

    THE MORE CITIZENS KNOW THE BETTER: FOILED ATTEMPT TO CREATE INSTABILITY

    The Bureau of Public Safety commends State Security Agencies for surveilling, retrieving arms and ammunitions and thus arresting some suspected culprits behind the manufacture and stacking of arms.

    The need for security agencies to clamp down on the proliferation of arms in Ghana cannot be overemphasized and thus must be an ongoing concern to assure public safety and security.

    However, the Bureau of Public Safety rejects government communication on a foiled attempt to destabilize the country.

    The (Security) communication is poor and does not assure public safety as more questions remain unanswered.

    We urge the State security managers and political authority to collaborate responsibly on sensitive matters such as these in future.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com