Okpoi Gonno residents help the community

Accra, Nov. 25, GNA - Efforts of residents of Okpoi Gonno in Teshie, Accra to help the police reduce harassment from armed robbers was waning because the running cost of the vehicle they had donated to the police to patrol the area was beating them.

They now owed 40 million cedis debt used to service the vehicle, which they hard parked, back on the road.

Mr Timothy Ladzekpo, Chairman of the Okpoi Gonno Residents Association, speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the association said the increased level of crime within the community forced them to take an immediate step by assisting the police in its patrol duties with a vehicle to help combat crime in the neighbourhood, as the first community to do that in Accra.

He said though the presence of the police had considerably reduced armed robbery in the neighbourhood, the vehicle to assist them in their patrols had been parked because most of the residents had refused to pay their part of the 40 million cedis owed the creditors.

He commended the Inspector General of Police for giving them five policemen to patrol the area.

Mr Ladzekpo said though the community faced many problems, its collaboration with Hydrological Service Department, Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Electricity Corporation of Ghana, had enabled them undertake developmental projects like the construction of bridges, culverts and drainage systems and the supply of electricity. He urged residents whose activities have retarded development to come together in unity and build the community for their own future and that of the country.

He said the Association with the assistance of its development partners the association had drawn up a five- year development plan and there was the need for the residents to give it their support to ensure its success.

Some of the projects lined up include the construction of a Police Station at about two billion cedis to check the continuous harassment of residents by armed robbers, construction of culverts and drainage and supply of electricity.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Kwesi Ofori who is the Acting Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate commended the Association and advised residents to come into partnership with the police to draw a crime prevention strategy.

He said the plan should aim at preventing criminal activities by robbers and fraudsters rather than waiting for the worst to happen before taking measures. He urged all residents to be part of the association and form watch dog committees to protect themselves and their property.