Agona Swedru, Feb. 18, GNA- Armed robbery cases in the Agona Swedru Divisional Police Command of the Ghana Police Service reduced from 76 in 2005 to 45 in 2006 due to intensification of patrol duties by police personnel.

Chief Superintendent of Police Mr. Nat Acquah, announced this at this year's celebration of the West Africa Security Service Association (WASSA) organised by the Swedru Divisional Police Command at Swedru at the weekend. He said the Division received 65 cases of defilement in 2005 but reduced to 27 cases as a result of the harsh punishment handed down on the culprits by courts.

Chief Superintendent Acquah said the Divisional Command recorded 979 cases of fraud in 2005, while in 2006 308 cases were recorded, adding that a total of 6 rapes cases were recorded in 2005 but the figure however increased to 14 in 2006. He said 20 murder cases occurred in 2005 and reduced to 8 in 2006, adding that a total of 2,554 cases of stealing were recorded in 2005 and 1,648 in 2006.

He stated that 310 drivers sent to court by the police paid 83 million cedis fines to the state in 2006. The Divisional Police Commander said 95 people died in the 561 accidents in 2005,while 65 people died in 351 motor accidents in 2006. He said despite these achievements the police personnel in the divisional command lived under unbearable condition, including poor residential accommodation and appealed to the Agona and Gomoa District Assemblies to help rehabilitate the abandoned bungalows and offices for the personnel.

Mr Ben Mensah, Agona District Chief Executive Commended the personnel in the division for their hard work and dedication to duty that had protected the people in the area. He said the government and district assemblies were aware of the office and residential accommodation problems facing police personnel in the Agona Swedru area that had forced some of the personnel to reside outside the barracks.

Mr Mensah stated that report submitted on the abandoned buildings by the Divisional Police Command has been forwarded through the Central Regional Minister to the Interior Minister for immediate action. He assured the Police administration that the Agona District Assembly

would rehabilitate some of the abandoned buildings this year to enable personnel to have adequate accommodation to assist them perform their duties effectively. 18 Feb. 07