Accra, Feb. 4, GNA- The Minister of Interior Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, on Wednesday said before a police station could be upgraded to a district status, the size of the area, the population and the threat to security to the people in the area covered by the police station must be taken into consideration.

Mr. Owusu Agyeman gave the explanation when answering a question asked on behalf Mr. Joe Gidisu, NDC-North Tongu as to when Adidome in the Volta Region would assume a district police status. The Minister said the North Tongu District Assembly has promised to provide the Ghana Police Service in Adidome with both an office and a residential accommodation towards the establishment of the District Police Station in the area.

He said as soon as these provisions were made the station would become operational.

The Minister appealed to the Member of Parliament for North Tongu to use "his good offices to impress upon the Assembly to expedite action on its promise to assist the Adidome police station."

Mr. Steve Akorli NDC -Ho East, asked if it was a policy for the District Assemblies to provide police stations with offices and accommodation but the Minster said "ideally the state should provide such facilities, however because of the constraints of the budget and the modern method of policing within communities, district assemblies and philanthropists are coming in to assist the police service." Mr. Owusu-Agyeman in an answer to another question said provision has been made in the 2004 budget for funds to complete the Agona Swedru District Fire station, which was started in 1996.

He said inadequate budgetary releases made it impossible to complete the project by 1999 as planned.

"The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) would also welcome support from the district assembly towards the completion of the station," the Minister added.

Mr. Samuel Adu-Yeboah, NDC-Agona East asked if the Minister had written to the assembly for assistance to complete the fire service station but the Minister said the first line of action was for the state to fund the establishment of fire station before seeking support from outside.

Mr. Adu -Yeboah also asked if the Interior Ministry had any plans to provide transport for three police stations in the Agona East constituency. The Minister said the Ghana Police Service was currently rehabilitating 100 land rovers for distribution.

The Minister said the three police stations namely; Agona Nsaba, Duakwa and Mankrong Nkwanta would be considered when the rehabilitation on the vehicles was completed.

Mr. Adu-Yeboah asked whether in the absence of a vehicle motorbikes could not be used. The Minister said provision was being made in the budget for motorbikes and bicycles for use where vehicles could not be used.