Sunyani (B/A) Dec. 7, GNA - Mr. Eric Amoako, Brong-Ahafo Regional Crime Officer, on Tuesday said the ban on the sale and firing of knockouts especially before and during Christmas festivities, is still in force. He warned that buyers and sellers of the banned product would face the full rigours of the law when caught.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani in view of recent firing of knockouts in some part of the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, Mr. Amoako appealed to the general public to help the police enforce the ban.

The regional crime officer noted with regret that even though the ban on the product was still in force, some traders had devised means of bringing it into the country. "Some of the traders even pay duties on the banned product at the borders and bring them into the country for sale", Mr. Amoako indicated and urged security officials at the country's borders to live up to expectation. Mr. Amoako stated that the ban of the product would be a mirage if immediate measures were not put in place to stop traders from bringing the product into the country.

There have been isolated firing of such knockouts in the Sunyani Municipality as Christmas approaches and many residents interviewed called on the police and other security agencies to "wake up from their slumber" and ensure that the ban is strictly observed. Mr Kwame Esuah, a 60 year old businessman, observed that the government wisely instituted the ban on the product as a result of the disastrous effects that its firing during Christmas had on persons and properties. "It is very sad to hear from some Ghanaians that the laws of the country do not work and as such there is no need to enact them. I beg to differ and I urge the police and other security agencies to prove that the country's laws are enforceable", he said.

Madam Adwoa Manu, a 35 year old trader in foodstuffs at the Nana Bosoma market in Sunyani, was all for the strict enforcement of the ban, saying landlords, house owners and other members of the general public must assist the police to arrest perpetrators for prosecution. She recounted how her little sister lost one eye during an "sour" Christmas due to a knockout fired by an unidentified person. 7 Dec.10