Kumasi, March 5, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Police Command has drawn up an ambitious programme in its drive to win public trust and support in the fight to bring down crime in the region.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Patrick Timbillah, the Commander, said activities had been lined up to promote effective police/public partnership under a programme dubbed "help the police to help you." These include engaging stakeholders including educational and financial institutions, transport association, chiefs, the media, religious bodies, local communities, the hospitality industry, private and public sectors, businesses and telecommunication operators on "one-to-one basis." Additionally, they would stage a walk through some principal streets in the Kumasi Central Business area and organize a clean up exercise, commission a police hotline and education on crime prevention supported by a musical show.

Addressing journalists in Kumasi, Mr Timbillah said modern policing demands that all join hands with the police to combat crime at all levels. He said the Command had met Vodafone, Tigo, Kasapa, MTN and Zain and discussed ways of establishing efficient and reliable One-Stop-Shop communication system to support the operations of the police. This, he said, had become necessary given the fact that the "191" emergency telephone line is non-functional in the region. It is therefore important the telephone service providers helped them out with a telephone hotline.

Mr Timbillah also suggested that Ghanaian musicians should come out with songs with clear and strong messages to discourage people from committing crime. Health facilities and herbalists must also report to the police people who come to them to receive treatment for gunshot wounds.