Social problem involves condition between people leading to social responses that violate the
values and norms of some people and cause economic or emotional suffering. (Barker, 1995)
WHAT IS CONTRACT KILLING?
Contract killing is a murder in which a killer is hired by another person to murder for material
reward, usually money. A person who carries out a contract killing is known as a contract
killer, hit man, or assassin (Modern Ghana, 2014)
DOES IT AFFECT ANY CHERISHED VALUE?
From the definition above, it�s obvious that for contract killing to constitute a social
problem it must first affect the cherished values and norms of the people and secondly affect
significant number of people. In Ghana, especially the three main religions (Traditional,
Christianity and Islam) and even the world at large cherish life a lot. We believe that when
you have life you have hope therefore we do not entertain any act that takes away one�s life
and also one does not have the moral right to take away someone�s life.
IS SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE AFFECTED?
Between December 2013 and March this year, a spate of killings have occurred across the
length and breadth of the country. From Accra to Tamale, at least 20 Ghanaians, including
two traditional rulers in Greater Accra and Brong Ahafo Regions, have suddenly been
pounced upon and gruesomely murdered in their homes or cars. Some of these murders
include Rosemond Nyampong, Fennec Okyere, Samuel Denis Ayibah, Quist Defore and
Kwesi Sekyi Prah.
Kofi Defore an immigration officer was killed barely a month after Rosemond Nyampong a
stanbic staff was killed. Not long after, another bank worker called Kwesi Sekyi Prah, Zenith
bank branch manager was also shot dead.
The prampram police arrested Asshaku Adam, also called 116 a name he has appropriated to
himself due to the number of people he claimed to have killed.
Scared as much as the ordinary Ghanaian, our members of parliament have called on
government, to give the police the necessary assistance to live up to their responsibility of
protecting Ghanaians. In fact the parliamentarians asked that they be assigned personal body
guards. The Member of Parliament for Gar Timpane; Dominic Azuma fears members of
parliaments may soon be the target for the rampaging killers. He said �Something must be
done and done very fast� (The Chronicle, 2014).
WHAT MAKES IT A CONTRACT KILLING BUT NOT ROBBERY?
The nature of the killings makes it a contract killing and the specific targeting involved
suggest that the victims are carefully selected, ambushed and slaughtered and police reports
always show that nothing is stolen from them. That can only be contract killing, the type we
used to see only on late night television screens.
Responding to the general atmosphere of insecurity, the Police Administration has sought to
assure all and sundry that there was no cause for alarm, as they were on top of the situation,
admitting though that it was �a bit worrisome. �There is no need to feel insecure. The Police
Administration is doing everything possible to curb this menace,� said ASP Joseph Darkwa,
PRO Criminal Investigations Directorate.
Interviewed on Citi News, ASP Darkwa said �The Police Administration has increased night
patrols and we have also embarked on arresting unregistered motorbikes which are mostly
used in committing some of these crimes.� The Criminal Investigating Department, according
to him, has dispatched a number of plain clothes detectives into communities �to help detect
some of these crimes�.
The Chronicle calls on Ghanaians, especially those involved in partnerships with non- Ghanaians, to watch their behaviour in businesses, especially the urge to get more out of the
business than they are entitled to under the memorandum of understanding, or whatever law
governs their business relationship with their partners (The Chronicle, 2014).
CONCLUSION
We need a very strong and efficient police service to lead the crusade to sustain the peace
and stability of the country and in this project we are certain that the police can count on the
support of the public.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, welcomes the decision of the Police Administration to take
measures to curtail the rise in criminal activities.
It is for this reason that i appeal to the various communities to revive the neighbourhood
watchdog committees to assist the police to weed out the criminal gangs who live within our
midst.
Let us give the police our support to live in a more secure and peaceful environment to go
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