Concern about police delays in executing court orders

Accra, Oct. 30, GNA - Many people are still "languishing" unduly in custody partly because of delays by the police in executing court orders pertaining to their cases, a Member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has observed.

Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu, MP for Ahafo Ano South, said he could not fathom why an order issued by the court in 2001 for the destruction of three bags of cannabis at the Dunkwa-on-Offin District Police headquarters, should take them six years to carry out.

The PAC heard at its sitting on Monday that the Dunkwa-On-Offin Police executed the 2001 court order in August 2007.

"This attitude is not good enough," Mr Manu said, adding that this persistent delays by the police might also be the reason for the many people still on remand.

This was during the appearance of officials of Ministry of the Interior, led by Mr Kwamena Bartels, to response to queries raised in the 2004-05 Auditor General's report on financial operation of the Ghana Police Service.

The Report revealed a general lack of supervision of police exhibit stores, as well as inadequate storage capacity, leading to congestion, and sometimes, the loss of revenue.

According to the Report, the Police Service as of 2004 owed Tema Oil Refinery more than GH=A2170,000 (17 billion cedis) for supply of fuel.

It noted that the debt had accumulated because the Service could not pay for oil lifting over a long period due to insufficient budgetary allocation.

The Report also revealed the loss of court exhibits valued at about GH=A215,000 (150 million cedis).

The exhibits, including GH=A22,500 (25 million cedis) cash and rifles left in the custody of a police officer, Mr J. A Milebor, the Ho station.

According to the Report, the items could not be produced for physical inspection during the audit, therefore it was concluded that Mr Milebor had expropriated them. The Report for 2004 also showed misapplication of GH=A256,100 (560 million cedis) from personnel emolument.