Accra, Feb. 4, GNA - The Accra Regional Police Command on Monday asked Ghanaians to exercise restraint as they celebrate Black Stars' victories in the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kwaku Ayesu Opare-Addo, the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander told the Ghana News Agency that in as much as the Police agreed with the decision and right to jubilate after the victory;
the Police would not compromise its professional stand on hooliganism. He said reports reaching the Police indicated that areas such as Osu, Kaneshie, Airport residential area, High street among others were in total frenzy after Ghana's victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria yesterday and some residents took advantage to burn lorry tyres in the middle of major roads.
DCOP Opare-Addo said some reports indicated that some went virtually naked while others sat in the trunks of vehicles to jubilate, resulting in huge vehicular and human traffic in such areas. According to him, the Police after Ghana's opening match with Guinea on Sunday January 20 made similar observations and was not happy that the public ignored its advice and repeated the same attitude. The Regional Commander asked the public to note that such acts were criminal offences, saying; "The Police will not allow this to happen the next time. Jubilation should not be a license to misbehave". DCOP Opare-Addo also advised football fans not to carry huge sums of money or valuables to the stadium and further congratulated the Black Stars for qualifying for the Semi-finals stage.
On arrests at the Ohene Djan stadium, the Police said there were few isolated cases of ticket racketeering and attempts to enter into the stadium without tickets or through unapproved routes. He said the suspects were only detained at the stadium until matches were over.
