Nakpanduri (N/R), Oct. 22, GNA - Assistant Commissioner of Police Agwunbutoge Awuni, the Northern Regional Police Commander, has said political leaders had failed the police in the Northern Region and this is demoralizing the personnel.

He said there was ineptitude on the part of the political leadership and neglect, making it difficult for the police to carry out their duties in a region that is the largest of the 10 regions. "There is no justification for one billion cedis to be spent on keeping peace when police are living in deplorable conditions," he said at Nakpanduri on Thursday during a visit the station by the Police Administration.

The visit followed the death of two policemen and injury to one in an ambush by gunmen suspected to have been organized by Johnson Kombian. General Constable Prince Agyare was killed when suspected criminals shot at them while they were on patrol duty on a motorbike. General Constable Owusu Frimpong died on Thursday from gunshot wounds he sustained from the shooting and a third policeman is on admission. Mr Awuni said the police at Nakpanduri were living in deplorable condition. "There is no armoury for them, no charge office for them and I recommended the station to be closed down." He suggested more money should be channeled to the police to find befitting accommodation and said the police did their best to arrest Kombian but he was allowed to escape. He said he suggested that Kombian should be sent to the Nsawam Prisons when he was arrested but that was not done and he escaped. Mr Awuni said the people of Nakpanduri should also be blamed for shielding Kombian and that the police in Nakpanduri were sometimes prevented from fetching water in the town and were stopped from buying items in the market.

He said he wondered what had been done to the prison officers under whose command the hardened criminal escaped from lawful custody. The Director General of Police Welfare, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, said the Police Administration were behind the Northern Regional Police Command. He said the reward of GHc3, 000 was awaiting anyone who may give information leading to the arrest of Kombian.