Cape Coast, Sept. 3, GNA -The Member of Parliament for Cape Coast, Ms Christine Churcher, on Wednesday, handed over the keys to a police station whose construction was financed from part of her common fund, to the University of Cape Coast (UCC) authorities at a ceremony at Cape Coast.
The station was constructed at a total cost of GH¢54,000.00, with Ms Churcher contributing GH¢40,000, and the UCC, the rest of the amount.
The well -equipped facility, consists of the main counter, a charge office, and two others offices for the crime and station officers as well as male and female cells with lavatories.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Churcher said she was moved by the plight of the University community when she read about rampant reports of thefts, robbery, rape and assaults there, and decided to help in the provision of the station, since the University did not have one. She said there was the need to beef up security on campus, since the crime wave was becoming complex, to protect life and property of students and lecturers, as well as the communities around it. She expressed the hope that the siting of the station there will instil fear in criminals and minimize their activities. Mr Kofi Duku Arthur, Commissioner of Police in charge of Technical Services, who deputized for the Interior Minister, Dr Addo Kufuor, urged the personnel who will man the station to maintain it, to dispel the notion that it was the habit of the police to allow buildings to deteriorate.
He said even though it was the duty of the police to protect life and property, the rapidly expanding communities with the attendant complex crimes, was making it difficult for them, and assured Ghanaians that the police will be efficiently equipped to deal with the situation. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng, Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, hoped the University community, which was fast expanding, will receive prompt response from the police in times of distress. He said the station will soon be expanded to enable it deal with all situations within and around the university.