Ho, Feb 17, GNA - Divisional, District and Sectional Police heads in the Volta Region met in Ho on Wednesday to strategize on meeting the security needs of the region in the face of logistics, manpower and welfare challenges.

Assistant Commissioner of Police David Ampah-Bennin, the Volta Regional Police Commander, told the meeting that robbery, defilement and murders were nagging areas needing intensive focus. He said the war against these crimes including smuggling must be won and appealed to all police personnel in the region to show interest in collecting data that would help in the fight against crime. Mr Ampah-Bennin listed shortage of personnel, office and staff accommodation, vehicles and inadequate allocation of fuel, as some of the challenges.

He said for example 70 police personnel in the Ho Municipal Area did not have places of abode and therefore congregate dangerously in single rooms. Mr Ampah-Bennin said with the support from some banks and other organizations, the regional command had put up a five-cubicle toilet facility for 65 personnel and their families in a rented block in Ho and gave some facelift to the police regional headquarters. He listed other projects as offices at Sogakope, toilet facilities at Anyirawase and Abutia-Kloe and Agbozume and classroom blocks at the Police Training School in Ho. Mr Ampah-Bennin hinted that the command would facilitate the construction of a Police Clinic in the region. Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Necku (rtd), the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, said government was aware of the problems of the Police Service and would tackle them. He said the numbers would be increased while tackling the logistics problems of the service. Lt. Col. Necku suggested that the Police made arrangements with the health facility at the 66 Artillery Regiment to tackle some of the health needs of its personnel. He advised the police to show commitment to their profession and show unalloyed loyalty to the state. 17 Feb 10