School heads urged to collaborate with police to fight crime

Sunyani (B/A), Oct. 29, GNA - Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, at the weekend appealed to heads of schools to collaborate with the Police Service to fight the rising levels of criminal activities in schools.

He noted that "wee smoking, gangsterism, prostitution, the use of narcotic drugs, rape, illegal possession of firearms, examination leakages, marks buying and stealing were now very rampant in both second and third cycle institutions", adding the situation had been worsened by the advent of the internet.

The Regional Minister was speaking at a grand durbar to commemorate the 10th anniversary celebration of the Ghana Police Ladies Association in Sunyani. It was under the theme: "Crime in Schools: A Challenge To the Policewoman".

Nana Seinti said the nation could not afford to see such vital human resources wasted while a chunk of its other resources were used to train the youth, who are expected to manage the affairs of the state in future.

He called on mothers and policewomen to lead the crusade against indiscipline by educating their children at home to curb the extent of moral degeneration among the youth. The Regional Minister donated one million cedis to support the association's activities.

Mrs. Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, Deputy Inspector General of Police, who was the guest of honour, advised policewomen to aspire to higher heights in their career and not to regard such aspirations as the preserve of men.

She said given the reputation that Ghana had earned in peacekeeping operations around the world, it was imperative for them to maintain a highly professional conduct to win the confidence of the public, as well as the international community.

"You must endeavour to desist from corruptible practices in the performance of your duties to save the Service from the negative image it has gained so far", she said. In an address read on her behalf, Mrs. Akua Debrah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Education appealed to the policewomen to join hands with the Ghana Education Service to promote girls' education in the quest to achieve the country's millennium development goals in education.

She called on the association to establish cadet corps in schools to help instil discipline among students. Mrs. Mills-Robertson later inaugurated a 30-million cedis toilet facility built by the association at the Regional Police Headquarters. Earlier, Mr. Ayensu Opare-Addo, Brong-Ahafo, Regional Police Commander led the Deputy IGP to inspect a guard of honour. 29 Oct. 05