The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ledzokuku, Hon. Israel Adjetey Otchwenmah, has defended Teshie's image following a recent phone dealer killing. He described the incident as isolated and emphasized that Teshie remains a peaceful and welcoming community despite security concerns. According to Hon. Otchwenmah, significant efforts have been made to reduce crime in the area.
Hon. Otchwenmah mentioned that this year’s Homowo festival was relatively peaceful, reflecting improvements in security compared to previous years. He stated that those who committed the crime were not indigenes of Teshie, but were rather lured by a lady who is a resident. The MCE expressed concern that the incident attracted negative publicity for Teshie and could undermine efforts to improve the community's reputation.
Responding to comments by musician and politician Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, who described Teshie as a dangerous place to live, Hon. Otchwenmah questioned the basis for such a generalization. He argued that the community has changed over the years and that past incidents should not be used as the sole basis for assessing its current security situation.
The MCE cited measures introduced to improve security, including fixing streetlights, monitoring crime-prone areas, and deploying community watchdogs. He added that two people were arrested by the watchdog task force during this year’s Homowo celebrations as part of efforts to maintain law and order. Hon. Otchwenmah also acknowledged that Uber and other ride-hailing drivers avoid Teshie at night.
On reports of ride-hailing concerns, Hon. Otchwenmah acknowledged that the situation had been a concern for some time. He argued that criminal incidents, including vehicle snatching, also occur in other communities without necessarily resulting in those areas being widely labelled unsafe. The MCE cited the case involving notorious armed robber Atta Ayei, which occurred in Teshie years ago.
Hon. Otchwenmah urged the public to recognize that Teshie comprises several residential communities and estates beyond its coastal areas. He disclosed that the recent killing occurred in the eastern part of Teshie, closer to Manet, and maintained that the incident should not define the entire township. The MCE acknowledged that youth unemployment remained a challenge.
Hon. Otchwenmah expressed sympathy for the family of the deceased and pledged the Assembly’s support as efforts continue to improve security and make Teshie a safer place to live. He also mentioned that he had engaged the Municipal Education Director and the Education Oversight Committee to assess the situation in schools and determine possible interventions due to the ongoing teachers’ strike.
Key points
- The MCE emphasized that Teshie has made significant progress in reducing crime and improving security.
- Hon. Otchwenmah questioned the basis for generalizations about Teshie's safety, citing changes in the community over the years.
- The MCE urged for a balanced assessment of Teshie’s security situation, taking into consideration the measures introduced to improve safety.
