A couple of weeks ago when the member of Parliament for Bongo was robbed of his car at gunpoint, I was secretly glad. It is not that I have anything against the guy but the fact is that the political elite in Ghana are less vulnerable to violent crime than we ordinary folks.
Parliamentarians were outraged at the audacity of the crime, and rightfully so. What they would know, if they had their ears to the ground, is that we plebeians have been suffering from these attacks in silence for a long, long time. Drinking bars in some parts of Accra are routinely held under siege, and the patrons robbed of mobile phones, cash and sometimes cars, by thugs wielding machetes and locally manufactured firearms. I myself was nearly a victim several months ago when I was chased in my car by some robbers, whiles dropping off a lady friend after a night out. Luckily we managed to escape thanks to some James Bond inspired driving by my humble self.
In the past month alone I can count as many as seven friends and acquaintances who have been victims of one form of violent crime or another. Some of them were badly beaten up just for their mobile phones, others for cash, and one even had his BMW 5 series taken from him.
I have always fancied myself as a great believer in the rule of law. But when citizens believe the state cannot protect them, there are consequences for society. There are now many vigilante groups in our communities, masked as neighborhood watch clubs, meting out instant justice (often death) to suspected criminals. Even though I should know better, I have heard myself say “serves him bloody right” on ocassion.
My friends and I now often talk about acquiring guns to protect ourselves. The truth is that many of those guns will not be purchased from licensed dealers and the bearers will probably not have permits to carry them. The State’s unwillingness to admit that violent crime is a real issue is leading its citizens to resort to desperate measures for self-preservation.
My happiness when the MP was robbed, was misplaced. I thought the incident would put violent crime right up there on the political agenda. I was expecting a proper public debate on the issue since this epidemic started. Instead parliament reacted by calling for more effective security for it’s members! What about the silent victims…those of us that put them in power?
Of course they don’t care. Selfish bastards.
Kofibaaboni's Weblog 
George, the issue that is confronting the country is one that has been brewing for quite a while. it has been simmering under the seams. Lawlessness has been the bane of Ghanaian society for sometime now, the only difference with what we are witnessing to is, it has turned violent. We have never respected the law, we drive with little regard for traffic regulations, we litter our streets with impunity, we have very little respect for policemen and authority in general.The above mentioned factors coupled with the criminal income disparity that exists in Ghana is a recipe for disaster.Until this disparity dissipates we will encounter more difficult times. Columbia and Brazil is testament to my point.Massa, Kidnapping will be the next big thing in Ghana if this incompetent government is unable to nip it in the bud and i am speaking as an NPP supporter.