Chief Superintendent Washington Folie, the Dormaa Municipal Police Commander, on Wednesday bemoaned excessive intake of alcohol among the youth in Dormaa Ahenkro, which had led to a rise in assault cases in the area.

He said majority of the youth also resorted to patronising night clubs and drinking spots at odd hours of the day, which often drove them to engage in social vices with impunity.

“At this point I don't want to provide details of crime statistics in the community. These are people under 18 years old,” he said.

Chief Superintendent Folie said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Dormaa Ahenkro.

“Our usual patrols have revealed that the youth engage in heavy drinking after that they attack one another. This is extremely worrying because when they are put before courts parents go through pain and difficulties footing court bills. This can endanger or jeopardise their future,” he stated.

He appealed to stakeholders including parent, teachers, the Police and the Municipal Assembly to come together to find solutions to the problem.

Chief Superintendent Folie expressed concern about the undue influence of some prominent chiefs and opinion leaders in the area in the administration of justice.

“When people are arraigned… these leaders line up at our doors to plead for their relatives suspected or accused of crime. If you don’t satisfy them they begin to think you are bad and unreasonable. We need to secure a safe society to create a better future four ourselves,” he added.