By: Shaibu Abdul-Salam, Seasoned Detective and INTERPOL Officer officer.
Obuasi has long been known as the Golden City. A community blessed with abundant natural resources, resilient people, and a proud history of contributing significantly to Ghana’s economy. However, in recent times, Obuasi have witnessed an alarming rise in violent crime, gang-related clashes, the proliferation of illegal firearms, and the growing abuse and trafficking of illicit drugs among sections of our youth. Every life lost is one too many, and every family left grieving is a painful reminder that we must act decisively and collectively.
These disturbing developments are not merely security concerns, they threaten our future, undermine investor confidence, weaken social cohesion, and erode the peace that has defined our municipality for generations. Obuasi should be a land of opportunities, development, and peaceful coexistence, not fear, violence, and insecurity.
As someone with a background in security, I firmly believe that lasting peace cannot be achieved through law enforcement alone. Sustainable security is built on partnership, intelligence, prevention, community trust, and a shared commitment to protecting our people. Security is everyone’s responsibility.
The Ghana Police Service and other security agencies must continue to intensify intelligence-led operations, dismantle criminal networks, remove illegal firearms from our streets, combat the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, and bring violent offenders to justice. At the same time, community policing and stronger collaboration between the security services and residents must be encouraged, because effective policing is most successful when communities actively support law enforcement.
However, the police cannot do it alone.
Traditional authorities must continue to use their influence to promote peace, mediate conflicts, and discourage criminal behaviour within our communities. Parents and guardians must remain actively involved in the lives of their children, providing guidance, discipline, and positive values. Religious leaders must continue to preach peace, integrity, responsibility, and respect for the rule of law.
Our schools, educational institutions, civil society organisations, and the media also have an important responsibility to educate and mentor our young people on the dangers of violence, drug abuse, illegal firearms, and criminal activities while promoting responsible citizenship.
AngloGold Ashanti and other corporate institutions operating within our municipality equally have a critical role to play. Beyond their economic contributions, they should continue to invest in youth development, technical skills training, entrepreneurship, sports, education, and sustainable employment opportunities. When young people are equipped with skills, meaningful jobs, and hope for a better future, the attraction to crime is significantly reduced.
At the same time, we must recognise an important reality. Many young people are not choosing violence because they lack potential, they are searching for survival. Expanding access to skills development, entrepreneurship support, apprenticeships, sports, mentorship, and decent employment is not only an economic investment, but also one of the most effective long-term crime prevention strategies available to any society. A community that gives its youth hope is a community that strengthens its own security.
Most importantly, every resident of Obuasi has a role to play. We must reject the idea of belonging to gangs. We must refuse to shield criminals, refuse to glorify violence, and refuse to tolerate illegal firearms within our communities. Don’t stay aloof. If you see something, say something. Report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities. Criminals thrive when communities become afraid or unwilling to speak.
The safety of our people must never become a partisan issue. It is a shared responsibility and a moral obligation that requires government, security agencies, traditional leaders, corporate institutions, religious bodies, educational institutions, civil society organisations, families, and individual citizens to work together with a common purpose.
Obuasi deserves to be known not only for its gold but also for its peace, security, and opportunities. Together, we can restore confidence, reclaim our communities, protect our youth, and build a municipality where every child can dream without fear, every business can prosper with confidence, and every family can live in safety and dignity.
Our gold is valuable, but the lives of our people are priceless. Let us protect both. Together, we can build an Obuasi that is safer, stronger, and full of opportunities.
Obuasi deserves peace, security and a future our youth can believe in.
Shalom.
Baaba_Shai ✍️