General News of Thursday, 24 June 1999

Source: GNA

Crime wave escalates in Kumasi

The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has adopted immediate measures to clamp down on increasing activities of armed robbers in the Kumasi metropolis to restore confidence in the residents.

This was contained in a release issued by the REGSEC after an emergency meeting on Sunday, June 20 to review the spate of armed robbery in the metropolis. The release said the REGSEC has accordingly directed that with immediate effect, joint military and police night patrols will be conducted through the metropolis.

Snap road barriers will also be mounted at all entry points into the city from 6 p.m. while vehicles entering or leaving the city after 6pm would also be randomly searched by patrol teams.

Hotel owners have also been requested in their own interest to expose all criminals who are lodging with them. REGSEC warned that owners of hotels identified to provide refuge to such criminals would be prosecuted while their hotels will be closed down. The REGSEC has also directed that all those in possession of weapons without authority should hand them over to the police or face prosecution.

REGSEC also ordered that all vehicles with foreign registration numbers found operating in the metropolis after 6pm should be impounded.