Tighten security and deal with criminals - Prez orders

President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday tasked the security agencies to beef up security in Kumasi to deal with criminal elements and ensure the safety of residents.

Speaking at the backdrop of shooting incidents by some suspected criminal elements in the Garden City recently, he asked the security agencies to increase their strength and presence in Kumasi, tighten their monitoring and surveillance in the metropolis and beyond.


President Mahama made this call in a closed door meeting with the National Security outfit, the military and the police at the Flagstaff House, Kanda.


The security agencies led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Peter Augustine Blay, the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Alhassan, and the Deputy National Security Coordinator, Mr Kosivi Dorgbor, were at the seat of government to brief the President on the security situation in Kumasi.


Briefing Journalists after the meeting, Mr Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Information and Media Relations, said the security chiefs had informed the President that every effort was being made to deal with the security situation in Kumasi.


He said the CDS, the acting IGP and the Deputy National Security Coordinator told the President that the security situation was generally stable, calm and normal in Kumasi and that the security chiefs had assured the President that they would increase reinforcement and sustain the exercise in Kumasi to ensure the safety of all residents. Mr Ayariga said the police investigations did not establish any robbery after the shooting incident in Kumasi, and indicated that police were still probing the issue.


The Minister said the security chiefs had indicated that some of the media reports did not reflect what had actually happened on the ground in Kumasi and, therefore, advised the media to give adequate reportage of the situation.

"The President is willing to do anything to make the people feel safe," he said, adding that President Mahama was generally satisfied with the briefing he had received.


Mr Ayariga said 70 suspected criminals have so far been arrested while others have been remanded.


It would be recalled that about 30 suspected criminals reportedly took different directions on unregistered motor bikes, firing guns sporadically to scare off members of the public in their attempt to escape police arrest at Ayigya in Kumasi on Tuesday.


The criminals were said to have gathered for a robbery attack but became scared when they learnt that the police had got information about their intended action.


Stampeding motorists were said to have crashed into each other in their attempt to escape from the marauding criminals, while terrified residents also remained locked up in their houses.