Minister bemoans attacks on the Police

Sunyani (B/A) Sept. 5 GNA - Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister on Friday bemoaned the recent spate of mob attacks on Police personnel, saying the trend undermined their determination to maintain law and order.

Nana Seinti was speaking at the inauguration of the Regional Police Band, "Action Six", in Sunyani.

Mob action is an attack on the rule of law and a threat to public and social order, he said, and appealed to people with grievances against the Police to use laid down procedures for redress and not to take the law into their hands.

The Regional Minister advised the Police personnel to avoid negative practices, which he said tended to bring the Service into disrepute.

He said "the indiscriminate use of fire arms, unlawful arrests and detention, abuse of fundamental human rights, interference in chieftaincy and land disputes, delay in investigations of cases, excessive use of force and debt collection for friends and the perceived use of Police motor checks on the road as money making ventures rather than safety campaigns needed to be addressed immediately to enable the Police to win confidence and the support of the public in the fight against crime".

Nana Seinti noted that the Police band had played to attract people to attend its educational campaigns.

He during such interaction the public is offered the opportunity to ask questions about the operation of the Police. He expressed optimism that the Regional Band would be used to build a dependable partnership with the public and enhance the activities of the Service and other Departments.

The Minister urged the bandsmen not to engage themselves in drug abuse, alcoholism and immoral behaviour, which could lead them to acquire sexually transmitted diseases.

Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Boakye Appiah, in-charge of Welfare, on behalf of the Police Administration commended the government for equipping the Service with vehicles and communication facilities to enable them to render efficient service.

He said the Ghana Police Service is capable of efficiently discharging its constitutional obligations, noting that the Service had performed better in the past two years than in the preceding years. Mr Boakye Appiah urged the Regional Police Commander to take active interest in the affairs of the Band by ensuring that the members were well catered for and used in the national interest.

The Police Commissioner urged the Bandsmen to be disciplined since other young musicians in the Region would be looking up to them to set high standards.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Oppong Asante, Regional Commander, expressed regret that financial constraints had delayed the desire of the Regional Police Command for a resident band to foster a healthy interaction between the Police and the public. He said the Band would enhance the social and welfare activities of the Regional Police and called for public support for the Band. The Regional Commander thanked individuals and companies that responded positively to the request for assistance to paint the Regional Police Headquarters and urged others to follow such examples.