...combating armed robbery in B/A

Five police officers suffered gunshot wounds in the course of combating armed robbery incidents in Brong-Ahafo in 2011, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Robert Ayalingo, Regional Police Commander, disclosed on Friday.

Addressing officers and men of the service at the annual West African Soldiers Social Activities (WASSA) in Sunyani, the regional police commander said one of the victims had his right leg amputated due to the severity of the injury.

Vice President John Dramani Mahama and some ministers of state attended the party organised annually by the police to fete officers and men of the service.

DCOP Ayalingo said intensive police-military patrols together with the provision of armed escorts to transport operators helped to manage highway robberies along the Techiman-Nkoranza-Atebubu-Yeji highways.

He said several highway armed robbers were arrested last year with some of them sentenced by courts to long prison terms ranging from 25 to 80 years.

Mr. Ayalingo commended the judiciary for its understanding and speedy prosecution of armed robbery cases and expressed the hope that the courts would facilitate other pending cases.

He said more than five tons of Indian hemp was seized whilst stealing and pick-pocketing, which were prevalent at lorry parks and other public places had also reduced drastically.

The regional police commander said following the conflict in neighbouring Cote D’Ivoire, more than 5,000 refugees and combatants arrived in the country through various frontiers at Sampa, Drobo and Dormaa-Ahenkro early last year.

About 60 AK 47 and other assault rifles, as well as several rounds of ammunition were retrieved from the refugees, he added.

DCOP Ayalingo noted that despite all these achievements, the service was still confronted with a number of challenges including inadequate personnel as the region lost 53 personnel last year to retirements, deaths, dismissals and desertion.

He said one major drawback to police efficiency in the region was lack of vehicles, disclosing that 28 vehicles broke down and were currently at service workshops in Accra and Kumasi.

The remaining 30 serviceable vehicles in the region cater for the regional headquarters, four divisions, 17 districts, 14 units and 83 stations, he said.

DCOP Ayalingo said modern policing was not the sole preserve of the service but a partnership between the police and the general public.

“The potential benefits of the measures in our strategy to combat crime will be greatly enhanced if the public get involved in the process, and if communities come together to take control of their neighbourhood watch to assist policing in various communities to fight crime”, he said.

DCOP Ayalingo entreated the policemen and women to continue to work with zeal and enthusiasm to help reduce crime this year.

Vice President Mahama appealed to the police officers to work in tandem with their code of ethics and guidelines while the government worked hard to improve their conditions of service.

He disclosed that last year the government recruited 4000 new officers into the service and had also introduced marine policing to fight crime committed on the high seas.

To this end, the Vice President said the government had imported two patrol boats to train police personnel for that purpose.