Police Commander warns against witchcraft accusations

The new Bongo District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Paul Archibald Ankan, has warned soothsayers and witchcraft doctors to stop pronouncing people as witches.

ASP Ankan, who issued the warning during the maiden Police-Community Forum, held at Bongo, said such acts had led to many innocent people particularly the elderly losing their lives whilst others were also banished from their communities.

He said there is no empirical evidence in Ghana’s laws to prove that people possess witchcraft.

ASP Ankan said so far he has prosecuted two cases.

He said assault is the highest offence recorded in the district followed by the pronouncement of witchcraft on people and road traffic offences.

ASP Ankan said policing is a shared responsibility and appealed to members of the public to assist police personnel in the discharge of their duties, especially during arrests.

He said the District Police Command in collaboration with the District Assembly would continue to organise educational forums to sensitise the public on the need to support the police in combating crime and maintaining peace as well as protecting lives and property.

He urged the public to take charge of their personal security and to also report criminal activities to the police for appropriate actions to be taken.

The District Chief Executive, Mr. Alexis Ayamdor Adugda commended the Police Command for organising the forum and, gave the assurance the assurance as the Chairman of the District Security Council, the Assembly would continue to give the police the maximum support to help maintain law and order in the District.

The Paramount Chief of Bongo, Naba Baba Salifu Aleemyaarum who chaired the function, attended by heads of decentralised departments, past assembly members, youth groups and representatives of various business associations in the district, reiterated the need for the public to support the police in combating crime.