Wa, April 04, GNA - Only five out of the 12 Police Stations in the Upper West Region have four-wheeled vehicles to carry out their daily operations, Mr George Ankobil Upper West Regional Police Commander said on Tuesday.

He said apart from Wa Municipal, Lawra, Tumu, Nadowli and Nandom police stations that had a vehicle each, Jirapa, Hamile, Funsi, Wechiau, Gwollu, Babile and Wellembelle were operating without vehicles. Mr Ankobil speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wa, said two Bolero vehicles sent to the Regional Police Command for highway patrols had broken down since October last year and had not been replaced.

He said as a result of the shortage of vehicles, the police now relied on some Government organisations for vehicles to undertake highway patrols between Wa and Bamboi in the Northern Region daily. "For how long can we continue to rely on other organisations that equally need their vehicles to undertake their official duties," He said.

Mr Ankobil said the Bolero Vehicles sent to them were not conducive for the roads in the region since most of them were not tarred. "These roads are so rough and it is only Land Rovers and four-wheeled drive pick-ups that are suitable," He added.

Mr Ankobil said the situation was worse in the districts because it was extremely difficult to undertake operations, as they had no other means than use bicycles.

On accommodation, the Upper West Regional Commander said more personnel were posted to the region without any corresponding increment in accommodation.

He appealed to landlords in the region to willingly rent out their houses to the police to make them comfortable to carry out their duties effectively.

Mr Ankobil expressed concern about "an invasion" of alien Fulani herdsmen in the Sissala West and East and Wa East Districts. He said their continuous influx into the region was not only a security threat in terms of stealing but was creating panic among the people as most of them were armed.

Mr Robert Ayalingo, Upper West Deputy Regional Police Commander told the GNA that the Command had written to District Assemblies to encourage the establishment of community watchdog committees to help weed out criminals in the region.

He said the police alone could not operate in all the communities within the region therefore; formation of the committees would create awareness among the people.