The trends and patterns of crime in Ghana: The case of robbery

The study utilized the official police data that included the robbery incident addresses/spots to explore the incidence, volume, trends, and patterns of robbery in Ghana from 2014 to 2017. There were 5696 robbery cases of which the highest, 1772 cases, were recorded in 2017, and the lowest cases, 1116 recorded in 2014 reported to the police during this period. The daily average robberies were 3 cases in 2014, 4 cases each in 2015 and 2016, and 5 cases in 2017. The robbery per 100,000 of population in 2014 was 4.1 persons. In 2015, the rate was 5 persons, in 2016 the rate was 4.9 persons and in 2017 it was 6 persons per 100,000 of population. The highest robbery cases were recorded in December, followed by November, September, and May. The Greater Accra region recorded the highest robberies, followed by the Ashanti region, which had the most robbery flashpoints/spots. The Accra-Tema metroplex in the Greater Accra region recorded the highest robbery cases, followed by the city of Kumasi in the Ashanti region. Robbery, an expropriative and serious acquisitive crime whose primary motif is financial gain appears to feed on lifestyles, opportunities, routines, and activities of people. While the arrest rate was small, the robbery related crimes, including robbery deaths, rapes, and other injuries brought fear and panic among the citizenry. Ghana’s robbery statutes, and law enforcement responses, including shooting death of suspects, and public lynching of some suspects do not appear to deter the robbery menace. The sources of the assault weapons used in the robberies, the robbery typologies, and the official crime gathering processes need further studies