The Member of Parliament for Ejisu, Kwabena Boateng, has expressed concern over the increasing involvement of young people in violent activities in the country.
Speaking on Nhyira FM’s Kuro Yi Mu Nsem with the host Barima Kofi Dawson, the lawmaker attributed the trend to widespread unemployment among the youth.
According to the MP, the lack of job opportunities has led many young people to seek alternative, often destructive, outlets for their energy and frustrations.
“Because the youth don’t have work to do, they find themselves into violence,” he said, adding that some have also turned to criminal activities like robbery and other forms of lawlessness.
Kwabena Boateng emphasized the need for urgent attention to address the issue of unemployment, stressing that it is a major factor contributing to the growing problem of youth violence in the country.
“Job creation is key to solving this issue. If our youth have employment, they won’t have time for violence and crime. Countries with security challenges often struggle with joblessness, too,” he said.
He also urged security agencies operating at the district level to intensify their intelligence gathering efforts to curb violence in the country.
He said that it is the responsibility of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and National Security to identify and monitor gang activities in various communities.
Lawyer Boateng revealed that BNI officers are stationed at district assemblies to gather intelligence on potential criminal activities and prevent them from happening.
He, however, expressed concern that these officers seem not to be doing enough, often staying in their offices while violence continues to plague communities.
“They should be able to identify any gang groups, their leaders and hideouts. They should know what they are capable of,” Mr. Boateng said, stressing that more proactive efforts are needed from security agencies to nip the problem in the bud.
His call for increased vigilance is seen as a push for more effective measures to ensure public safety.
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