Police Commands hold joint press conference

Takoradi, July 7 GNA - Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Western Regional Police Commander, on Monday said the Police is ready and prepared to handle any eventuality that may arise before, during and after the December Presidential and General elections. Speaking at a press conference jointly organised by the Western and Central Regional Police Commands at Takoradi, he said the Regional Police Command has formed a Rapid Deployment Force to handle any crises during the campaigns and elections.

Mr Alhassan said the Police is working round the clock to ensure trouble free electioneering campaign and elections in collaboration with other security agencies such the Custom, Excise and Preventive Service(CEPS), Immigration, Prisons and the National Fire Services.

He said day and night foot and mobile patrol had been intensified to ensure that people go about their daily activities without hindrance in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and the Districts. Mr Alhassan said following recent highway robberies, night patrols were being conducted on the Takoradi-Elubo and Takoradi-Cape Coast highways.

He said random swoops are also being conducted on the hideouts of criminals in the metropolis and on illegal miners. Mr Alhassan said the Regional Police Command is leaving no stone unturned in instilling discipline in Police personnel and disciplinary action has been taken against nine policemen for absenting themselves from duty.

He said two constables who assaulted a taxi driver at Sefwi Wiawso for failing to stop at a check point had been interdicted and investigation was being conducted into the case while two other policemen were being processed for court, charged with failure to provide necessaries of health and life for their children born outside wedlock.

Mr Alhassan said to ensure that police personnel in the region conformed to the rules and regulations of the Service as well as circulars from the National Police Headquarters, the Regional Police Command had formed a monitoring group to monitor police duties and professionalism.

He said the region was relatively calm with few cases of robbery, murder, chieftaincy and motor accidents and the Police and other security agencies in the region had managed to bring the crime situation to a tolerable level and strenuous efforts were being made to bring them to the barest minimum.

Mrs Rose Boi Antinga, Central Regional Police Commander, said the Central Regional Police Command had met representatives of the political parties to discuss the Public Order Act 491 and other election laws.

She advised political parties to notify the Police at least five days before political rallies saying permit for rallies would be strictly issued on first come first served basis. Mrs Antinga said the parties should also form committees to liaise with the various transport groups for transport for rallies and ensure that vehicles are not overloaded with supporters. She said drivers should not be given alcohol and rallies should start early and close on time.