The European Union through its project implementers, the No Business as Usual (NBU) Hub has undertaken what it calls the “law clinic”, to reduce the rate of crime among the youth in the Asokore Mampong Municipality.
The area forms part of the crime hot beds and election flush points, especially within its predominant Zango communities.
The Law Clinic which falls under the connected thinking series of the NBU hub aims to use the tool of engagement and education to rid the society of the unenviable tag of vigilantism, crime and narcotics.
Close to a hundred youth, gathered at the Galco House, to listen to the police as well as legal brains on issues including minor offences, mode of arrest and the consequences of having a criminal record.
Police commander for the Asokore Mampong Divisional Police DSP Alhaji Bala Jibrim who was key speaker for the event told Ultimate News, several youth in the municipality would have saved themselves jail, if they knew about the effects of their actions.
“We can’t just keep arresting people when they don’t know the offenses they are committing. Sometimes they feel they are just boys doing what they like. When we take our time to educate the people, it will even reduce the number of arrests that we have been effecting,” he stated.
Ms. Lawyer AkuaSerwaaAmpong, Attorney at O&A Legal Consult – key partner for the event- delivered a lecture on Implications of minor offences on youth.
Akua Serwaa Ampomaa described the knowledge of crime and law among the youth as worrisome and called for a national action to engage youth about acts that could land them on the wrong side of the law.
She indicated, “From the questions I realize that a lot of people didn’t even know what amounts to crime and in particular dishonestly receiving. I think if our institutions like the NCCE does its job very well, we wouldn’t be having issues like this because they are responsible and have the mechanisms and the funding to do education.”
Programs manager of social businesses and private partnerships at the NBU Hub Daniel Okiti Boama was confident the engagements will help reduce the unenviable records of crime recorded in the Municipality.
He told reporter Ivan Heathcote – Fumador, “The NBU cannot fully achieve its aim at developing this municipality without looking at the security.”
Quite a lot of youth within this municipality find themselves in a lot of offences so what we intended doing was to equip a section of the youth with knowledge about the law,” he added.
The NBU Hub aims to reduce youth unemployment while collaborating with the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly in areas of accountability, development and community involvement in local governance.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ivan Heathcote – Fumador
