By Murtala Issah
A lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Dr Mahama Seth Sayibu, has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to establish a permanent special police taskforce base in Tamale, warning that recent gains made in the fight against crime in the Northern Region could be short-lived if a sustained security presence is not maintained.
In a statement commending the Ghana Police Service, Dr Sayibu praised the IGP’s special taskforce operations currently underway across parts of the Northern Region, describing the exercise as impactful and timely. According to him, the operations have significantly reduced the activities of criminals and drug peddlers in Tamale and other districts where the taskforce has been deployed. Despite the success, Dr Sayibu cautioned that the absence of a permanent taskforce presence could allow criminal networks to regroup once the special operations end. He argued that sustained police visibility is critical to winning the long-term fight against crime in the northern sector.
The UDS lecturer also raised concerns about Ghana’s porous northern borders, which he said have become major conduits for the smuggling of illicit drugs into the country. These substances, he explained, are widely sold to young people, fueling indiscipline, violence, theft, and other criminal behaviours. He stressed that the growing drug menace among the youth poses not only a security threat but also a social and developmental challenge that requires urgent and sustained intervention.
Dr Sayibu further appealed to the Minister of Finance, who also doubles as the Acting Minister for Defence, to consider a special financial package for the Ghana Police Service. He said the funds should be dedicated to establishing and maintaining a permanent base for the special taskforce in Tamale to serve all five northern regions. According to him, such an investment would strengthen security operations, boost police morale, and help protect lives and property across the northern belt.
While advocating for tougher and sustained security measures, the lecturer cautioned the taskforce to operate within the bounds of the law. He emphasized that all operations must be conducted without excesses and in strict adherence to the human rights provisions of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. Dr Mahama Seth Sayibu believes that a permanent special taskforce presence in Tamale, backed by adequate funding and accountability, will play a critical role in safeguarding the northern regions from crime and drug-related activities.
