Construction works on a police headquarters in Wa would commence this month to help improve police efficiency, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister, said.

He said it was sad that the Regional Police Command, since its establishment in 1983, continued to operate from the District Police Headquarters, established more than 50 years ago.

Alhaji Sulemana said this at the “Government for the People Forum” aimed at bringing governance to the door-steps of the people.

The forum also offers the opportunity for the Government to give account of its stewardship, clarifying issues of national concerns- while taking on board suggestions and other relevant information towards the development of Ghana.

Alhaji Sulemana said crime rate in the region generally had gone down, but theft of motorbikes and stealing were rampant in the Wa Municipality.

He said the police had, however, taken proactive measures to address the menace but noted that the challenge had remained within the Sissala West and Sissala East districts where armed robbery cases had increased.

The Regional Minister explained that fighting crime could not be the sole responsibility of the police and allied security agencies alone but a collective responsibility of all.

He urged people in the region to volunteer information to the police in their fight against crime, explaining that the criminals were living with the people, and it was their civic right to expose them.

On the deplorable road network, Alhaji Sulemana said 31 lots of projects had been awarded and were being implemented on major trunk roads, and work was progressing steadily at a total cost of 4,053,626.93 Ghana cedis.

Three contractors were also undertaking re-gravelling works on the Hamile-Fielmuo-Gwollu road at a cost of 2,101,475.00 Ghana cedis.

Alhaji Sulemana said the Department of Urban Roads in the Wa Municipality was also in the process of installing three additional traffic lights to control vehicular movement at some intersections.

He told the forum that with the exception of the Wa Municipal Assembly, all the other 10 districts were beneficiaries of the Ghana Social Opportunity Project (GSOP) with a component funding of 18,695,220.00 Ghana cedis.

Some other sub-projects, costing 15,794,435.50 Ghana cedis, were being executed with 6,271,932.00 Ghana cedis so far made as payment for unskilled labour, providing employment opportunities for 23,680 rural poor.

Alhaji Sulemana said preparations were being made to award 37 more sub-projects in 2015 at a cost of 10,947,992.00 Ghana cedis to provide additional employment to 19,600 people.

Talking about Ebola, he said, the region share borders Burkina Faso, hence the need for adequate vigilance and surveillance; while calling on the health directorate to continue with public sensitisation on the disease.