Volta records low crime wave

Ho, Jan. 11, GNA- Mr Benard Dery, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Volta Regional Police Commander, on Wednesday said effective policing by the police over the past year has resulted in the reduction in crime rate in the region.

He said tracking of suspected criminals and swoops on hideouts of thugs in Aflao had changed the crime situation in the area, which has a notorious history of frequent criminal activities.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Ho, the Regional Police Commander said there was currently no area in the region that could be designated as crime prone.

Mr Dery, however, expressed regret at the frequent murders in some parts of the region, and attributed the incidents to alcoholism, use of narcotics and petty jealousies, adding that while criminal cases dropped from 12,891 in 2005 to 12,474 in 2006, murder cases rose from 26 in 2005 to 43 in 2006.

He also said reported cases of defilement also increased from 90 in 2005 to 152 in 2006, rape from 24 in 2005 to 34 in 2006 and said the rise in reports of defilements and rapes might be due to awareness among the public.

He cautioned parents against leaving their children under the care of relatives and co-tenants since in many cases of defilements culprits were identified as relatives, neighbours or co-tenants.

Mr Dery said efforts were being made by government to improve infrastructure at the various regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DVVSU) and to establish more units in the districts. He said the Police in collaboration with some non-governmental organisations would educate the public on family life and domestic violence, this year.

Mr Dery said the Police was tackling narcotics use, especially in the Nkonya, Alavanyo, Kpando, Vakpo and Anfoega areas where marijuana was being cultivated.

He said cocaine and heroine use was low and that only two cases involving heroine was recorded in the region last year. The Regional Commander said the Police and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) have cordially worked to facilitate prevention of smuggling, adding that smuggled goods intercepted by the Police were handed to the CEPS, which gave the Police a feedback on how such cases were handled.