St Matthew Catholic Church in Tarkwa sensitises members on kidnapping/terrorist attacks

The Saint Matthew Catholic Church in Tarkwa has organised a sensitisation lecture for the members on kidnapping and threats of terrorism.

The programme was to educate the church about the increasing spate of alleged kidnapping and threats of terrorism and what the public should do to curb the menace.

Addressing the congregation, Chief Inspector Joseph Bossman Amoako, officer-in-charge of the Community Policing Unit of Tarkwa Divisional Police Command, said churches needed to provide training for their security officers and Ushers to help them identify perpetrators.

He suggested that Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras and other security gadgets must be installed in and around the church premises to observe a person's entering the church compound.

He recommended that scanners should be procured to screen all members and vehicles entering the churchyard.

Chief Inspector Amoako again suggested the issuance of identification cards to church members for easy identification.

The officer-in-charge of the Community Policing Unit cautioned Ghanaians not to accept gifts from strangers and be extra vigilant in their communities.

He called on members of the various communities to be each another's keeper and be prepared to volunteer information to the police on time.

Answering questions from the congregation, Chief Inspector Amoako appealed to religious leaders to devote part of their sermon to educate congregants to be aware of new trend of crime in order not to fall into the traps of criminals.

He called on the public to see the police as their friends and not enemies.

The Parish Priest of the Church, Reverend Fr Anthony Nii Noi Dowuona, commended the Ghana Police Service for adopting proactive ways to constantly engage the public, especially with the recent arrest of a Burkinabe who was wielding a revolver at the Hamile Roman Catholic Church in the Upper West Region.

He expressed the hope that the church would be holding more of such programmes to conscientise its members.