MPs worry over increasing highway robbery

Accra, June 29, GNA - Members of Parliament on Friday touched on the increasing armed robber cases, especially those committed on the highways, and said more was needed to be done to tackle the issue.

They said the security forces, especially the police service, should be well resourced to enable it to discharge they duties creditably.

Members were contributing to a statement on the rising incidence of highway robbery cases made on the floor of the House by Mr. Simon Atingban Akunye, (NDC-Pusiga).

Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, deputy Minority Leader noted that similar statements had been made by members and said Parliament should consider summoning the Interior, Defense and Security Ministers to brief the House on the situation and steps being taken to curb the menace. Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, (NPP-Amenfi East) said it should be possible for the networking of all police stations to facilitate easy contacts and communication for quick deployment of personnel to deal with highway robbery and other such incidence.

Earlier, Mr Akunye told the House that the spate of armed robbery along the major roads in the northern sector, in areas such as Kintampo, Techiman, Tamale and Bolgatanga was becoming a source of worry for travellers and market women and called for a quick solution. In another development, the Minority NDC once again urged the House to invite the Finance Minister and Governor of the Bank of Ghana to brief Parliament on the cost involved in the re-denomination exercise saying Ghanaians were entitled to know.

Later when the House commenced Public Business, the Bui Power Authority Bill was taken through the Third Reading and passed into law. The passage of the Bill would see the establishment of an authority and the construction of a dam and hydropower station at Bui on the Black Volta River.

The execution of the project would increase the current installed capacity of the country's power generation system by 400 megawatts. The Chinese government has expressed interest in the funding of the implementation of the Bui hydropower project at an estimate of 600 million dollars.

The project would take five years to implement and it is programmed for completion in February 2012.