Ashanti Regional Security Council To Charge On Armed Robbers

The Ashanti Regional Security Council,REGSEC,has aassured residents in the Region especially the Kumasi Metropolis of adequate security measures to help protect law abiding citizens.This is because it views with grave concern the resurgence of Armed Robbery and other criminal activities in the region.The Ashanti Regional Minister,Hon Sampson Kwaku Boafo made these remarks at the First Ashanti Region 2004 Vanguard Best Taxi Driver Awards Ceremony in Kumasi today.

He revealed that the REGSEC met with top brass security personnel in the Region including District Chief Executives to review the security situation and condemns in no uncertain terms the barbaric activities of criminals in the Region.Accordingto Mr. Boafo intellegence reports indicates that most of the heinous crimes are committed in taxis whose registration numbers are not easy to identify at a reasonable distance because of their size and posture.

In view of this the REGSEC has directed that all taxi cabs operating within the Metopolis and other Disticts will be given identification numbers which will be easy to recollect.These numbers will be conspiciously embossed on both sides of the taxis and should be legible with minimum difficulty.

The Regional Minister indicated that modalities would be worked out for each District or area to have code numbers and colours to further facilitate easy identification of station or location at which the vehicle is operatig.He asked District,Municipal and Metropolitant Assemblies to meet with the transport bodies and organisations within one month to work out for the coding system.Taxi drivers and owners must therefore join any recognised bodies of their choice since no flooting taxis popularly called 'Waa Waa' would be entertained.

All those who clear their vehicles from the ports and have their cars in transit must also adhere to the guidelines pertaining to the use of trade licence plates,since defaulters would be prosecuted.Mr. Boafo added that motorbike riders caught using unregistered motorbikes in the Metropolis would be made to face the full rigours of the law.He also appealled to all stakeholders to co-operate to make the implimentation of these measures a success.

The Chief Executive Officer of Vangaurd Assurance,Mr.M.E Baba said the occasion is to encourage safty on the road since the rate of accidents on the roads are simply alarming.He said the idea will not be a nine-day wonder and called on drivers to be extra careful on the roads.

The first prize went to Mr.Raphael Asumang of the Mampong Taxi Local.He took home a double decker refrigerator.Mr. Kwabena Boahen of the Amnsie District Taxi Branch-Bekwai and Mugford Adu-Poku of the Ahodwo Nhyiaeso Taxi Local-Adum came second and third respectively.They took home a 20'' colour Television and a Ghetto blaster respectively. Ten others got c550,000 each as consolation prizes