General News of Friday, 18 September 2009

Source: GNA

Security personnel urged to sustain operations against criminals

Aflao, Sept. 18, GNA - Security personnel operating along Ghana's borders have been urged to sustain operations against criminals infiltrating the country, despite limited resources at their disposal. Alhaji Abukari Sumani, Chairman of Parliamentary Select Committee on the Interior, Defence and Security, made the call when he interacted with heads of security agencies at Aflao on Wednesday.

Alhaji Sumani, who was leading the Committee which was touring security posts in the country, explained that the exercise was to enable the group to be abreast with challenges of security personnel, boost their morale and report to government for the initiation of measures towards improving the security agencies.

Chairman of the Committee, who is also Member of Parliament for Tamale North, acknowledged that security agencies were encountering enormous problems such as inadequate logistics and residential and office accommodation.

He noted that an effective security network was a foundation for the socio-economic and political development of every county. Alhaji Sumani noted that the Aflao frontier was strategic to national development and appealed to security personnel there to be dedicated to work and collaborate to enable them to check smuggling and criminal activities to enhance revenue collection.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ahmed Issah Yakubu in charge of Aflao Police called on government to as a matter of urgency establish a permanent Police post with cells at the Aflao border to facilitate the fight against crime. He said even though the crime rate in the Aflao area has dropped, the fight against criminal activities remained a difficult and challenging task.

ASP Yakubu also appealed to government to address accommodation, sanitation and transportation difficulties facing the Police in the area. Mr Frank Amable, Ketu-South District Chief Executive, said the Assembly was assisting in the renovation of Police cells and toilets at the Denu and Aflao Police stations.