Even in Heaven, there was war – Margaret Ansei hits back at IGP over ‘Heaven’ comments

Even in Heaven, there was war – Margaret Ansei hits back at IGP over ‘Heaven’ comments

A former Municipal Chief Executive Officer for Suhum Municipal Assembly, Margaret Ansei, has slammed the Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, over comments that crime is inevitable and that it is only Heaven there’s zero crime in response to calls for his resignation following rising insecurity in the country.

According to Madam Ansei, the IGP’s pronouncement lacks positive accuracy because there is empirical evidence that even in Heaven, there was a war.

“A police officer is shot dead. A poor woman who is also hawking to get something for her children also died. And at that instance, you come to tell us there are crimes everywhere and only in heaven you won’t hear the sound of a bullet. Is he indirectly telling us we should die and go to heaven so we have peace? We should allow the armed robbers to kill us, so, when you go to heaven you will have peace you won’t hear the sound of a bullet. Is that what the contract IGP is telling us?” she quizzed.

Security analyst, Adam Bonaa called on the IGP to step aside amid the wave of crime creating insecurity in the country. He blamed the senior police officer for failing to restore calm and protect the ordinary citizenry from attacks.

“I am putting the blame at the doorsteps of the Police IGP and I am advocating that he should go, he has reached retirement, they have given him two extensions so he should go home for more enthusiastic, energised officers who are within the 60 years limit to take over and probably put a bit more enthusiasm into the Ghana Police,” he said on JoyNews.

In response to the call for his resignation, the IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh, stated that citizens should be modest in their expectations from the police.

He observed that there is nowhere in the world with zero crime records, therefore, the recent spate of crime in the country, however alarming, is not peculiar to Ghana.

“We are doing what we can to protect the people of Ghana. There is no society in the world where there is no crime. Even in the USA, UK, and Sweden, where they, more or less have everything, they still have crime. The only place that doesn’t have crime is heaven and we are not in heaven,” he said.

His comments drew public backlash with irate Ghanaians calling him callous and nefarious.

Commenting on the remarks on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Madam Margaret Ansei said the senior police officer erred, saying “He should be the last person to talk. He shouldn’t talk then Sheila [Director-General of Public Affairs, Ghana Police] will do the crisis management for him.

“It is too bad currently in this situation. One of your men is dead. You can imagine how his colleagues at that time and hearing you as their father you as an IGP speak like this.”

“The way he was displaying his ignorance about Heaven and the Bible, I was surprised. If he spoke about Heaven probably he might have read the Bible. In Heaven, there was a war that’s why God threw Satan down. He told us we’re going to suffer because Satan was here. And the Bible says God never sleeps or slumber. That means God is working, so, IGP sit up, get on the job, and work. Don’t come and tell us this.” She said during her submission.

“Why should you come and talk to us this way? Who programmed him to do that? We are not in Heaven? So what’s our standard of policing in this country that people should die?”

“Mr. Oppong-Boanuh get to work. If you feel you are too old get off the way and let a young man come and use energy and maybe try to do something to help us,” she advised.

Margaret Ansei shares the sentiment that the senior police officer is not top of the country’s security issues leaving things to fall apart.

“It looks like he’s far behind security issues. We’ll only see Ghana Police in their ballistic headgear and bulletproof whatever when there are stopping demonstrators that’s when you’ll see them. When did the IGP get to know that bullion vans are being used to carry money instead of transit? When did he get to know? And instead of you to be the last person to speak to calm us; trying to tell us that these are the measures you have put in place; you’re calming the situation it’s going to be well; these are what we’re doing; these are the programs we’re going to enroll to keep the citizens and your men safe you tell us it’s only in Heaven, so, we should allow the armed robbers to kill us.”

“You can’t be talking to us this way. We’re here. We’re in Ghana. We’re on earth, we’re not in Heaven yet and we’re by no means trying to go to Heaven now. Until the maker Himself decides to call you, so, he shouldn’t push us from Ghana and take us somewhere.”

The leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress, however, advised the Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, to refrain from making such distasteful utterances in the future.

Insecurity

On Monday, June 14, 2021, residents of Adedenkpo, near James Town were thrown into a state of shock after the gruesome murder of two persons during an attack on a bullion van by a group of armed robbers.

The two; police officer Emmanuel Osei and a hawker, Afua Badu, were declared dead while the driver of the van was admitted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after sustaining several injuries.

This incident has left many on social media peeved and concerned about the poor state of security in the country.

Also, one Benedicta Pokuaa Sarpong was shot at close range in her Range Rover vehicle at a spot near Airport Roundabout on Monday dawn.

She was later pronounced dead at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

The deceased was leading a convoy of three vehicles, including that of her husband at about 12 a.m when the incident occurred.

Her assailants fired shots after Mr. Agyemang Prempeh confronted the suspects over reckless driving.

What did James Oppong-Boanuh say?

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh has stated that despite the alarming rate of insecurity in the country, citizens should be modest in their expectations from the police.

According to him, several developed countries including the United States of America, United Kingdom are still battling with cases of robbery. Therefore, the recent spate of crime in the country, however alarming, is not peculiar to Ghana.

His apparent reaction to calls for his retirement was made during a visit Tuesday, to the family of the late Constable General, Emmanuel Osei, who was killed by armed robbers on Monday afternoon.

“We are doing what we can to protect the people of Ghana. There is no society in the world where there is no crime. Even in the USA, UK, and Sweden, where they, more or less have everything, they still have crime. The only place that doesn’t have crime is heaven and we are not in heaven,” he said.

Security analyst, Adam Bonaa called on the IGP to step aside amid the wave of crime creating insecurity in the country. He blamed the senior police officer for failing to restore calm and protect the ordinary citizenry from attacks.

“I am putting the blame at the doorsteps of the Police IGP and I am advocating that he should go, he has reached retirement, they have given him two extensions so he should go home for more enthusiastic, energised officers who are within the 60 years limit to take over and probably put a bit more enthusiasm into the Ghana Police,” he said on JoyNews.

In response to the call, the IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh, stated that citizens should be modest in their expectations from the police.

He observed that there is nowhere in the world with zero crime records, therefore, the recent spate of crime in the country, however alarming, is not peculiar to Ghana.

“We are doing what we can to protect the people of Ghana. There is no society in the world where there is no crime. Even in the USA, UK, and Sweden, where they, more or less have everything, they still have crime. The only place that doesn’t have crime is heaven and we are not in heaven,” he said.

His comments drew public backlash with irate Ghanaians calling him callous and nefarious.

 

By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana

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