The Ghana Police Service in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region has inaugurated a 25-member Neighbourhood Watchdog Committee to support the police to beef up security in Elubo and its environs.
The members were selected from the Elubo Youth Association and the Old Ankasa Community Youth Association formed to ensure the welfare of the youth.
The committee is expected to enhance security consciousness among traders and residents as well as encourage citizen participation in crime prevention and build strong informant base to arrest perpetrators.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony held at the premises of Elubo Police Station on Friday, December 28, 2018, the Half Assini Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Akwasi Kankam Boadu, reminded the Neighborhood Watchdog Committee that their role as committee members does not permit them to take law enforcement actions, cause unlawful arrest, carry weapons, detain and brutalize suspects.
“Your role is also not to engage in acts of vigilantism that has the tendency to mar this brilliant initiative, but to work closely with the police to abate crime", he advised.
“Crime in recent times has become sophisticated that the police need to work extra harder and adopt modern community engagement strategies to be a step ahead of criminals and the command would continue to adopt strategies and measures such as intelligence-led operations and increasing police presence at crime-prone areas,” he stated.
The Chief of Elubo thanked the Elubo Youth Association and Ghana Police and also other security agencies for the establishment of the Neighborhood Watchdog Committee in his area and its environs.
He said this committee will help bring peace in the area and pledged his support for the committee.
Some of the Committee Members who spoke to the media promised the committee members would do their best to help protect lives and properties at the Elubo and its environs.
The Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division, BNI among others were present at the inaugural ceremony.