The Central Regional Police Service has gathered intelligence which suggested that some people in the Cape Coast Metropolis were planning to burn the new Kotokuraba market if the stores were not fairly allocated.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) David Nenyi Ampiah-Bennin, Regional Commander disclosed this when he briefed a Regional Co-coordinating Council meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and Heads of Department in Cape Coast.

DCOP Ampiah-Bennin said the Police was not taking the issue lightly but would monitor the situation closely to avoid being taken by surprise.

There have been several controversies surrounding the demolishing, construction and allocation of stores in the Kotokuraba markets and currently, a case was pending before the law court on its mode of allocation.

The Police Commander, therefore, said the issue should not be taken lightly but should be given the needed attention to prevent the intended arson.

DCOP Ampah- Bennin said the police would also periodically embark on intelligence swoops at the hideouts and ghettos of criminals and increase police visibility in crime-prone areas in the Region to reduce the incidence of crime.

He said inadequate streetlights in some areas of the Cape Cost Metropolis made criminals hide under the cover of darkness to attack their victims and appealed to the Metropolitan Assembly to provide street lights in those areas.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan bemoaned how chieftaincy and land disputes had impeded the pace of development in the Region and appealed to the chiefs to cooperate with the Regional House of Chiefs to resolve pending chieftaincy disputes.

He warned the newly confirmed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the Region to desist from meddling in chieftaincy and land disputes within their jurisdiction.

Dr Samuel Kwashie, Regional Director of Health Services raised concerns about the siting of a gas filling station at Kakumdo, a suburb of Cape Coast near the Wesley Girls Senior High School and appealed to authorities to relocate it to a safer site.

His concerns follow recent disturbing reports of gas explosions and its related consequences in some parts of the country, adding that the Region must take a cue and put in place measures to prevent similar mishaps.