False Alarm - No Cocaine found

Ada Foah (G/A), Aug. 24, GNA - A combined team of security personnel from the Police; Military; Bureau of National Investigations; National Security and Customs and Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Thursday detonated two pneumatic fenders, which were found at sea near Ada Foah.

The operation was to identify what the two fenders that looked like jumbo-sized poly tanks with lorry tyres chained around them contained. The operation was led by Brigadier-General Emmanuel Okyere, General Officer Commanding, Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces; Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Daniel Odai, who is Acting Director General of Police Operations and ACP Jonathan Yakubu, Tema Regional Police Commander.

Briefing Newsmen after exploding the fenders, Brig-Gen Okyere said that the first information about the fenders came from a fisherman, whose net came into contact with the fenders during a fishing expedition.

He said the fisherman immediately informed the Police, who quickly secured the fenders but called on the Military for assistance after preliminary Police investigations.

Brig-Gen Okyere said the operation brought to the fore the need for cooperation between the security agencies and the public. Captain Gaspard Asare of the Ghana Armed Forces Explosive Disposal Team said they initially thought they could cut open the fenders but seeing the futility in that venture, they decided to use what he described as limited demolition by the use of explosives to cut open the fenders.

"We are not surprised that it contained nothing after detonating the fenders. They normally contain air or gas." He said the fenders were attached to ships to serve as cushions to reduce impact if they crashed against hard surfaces, other vessels or to prevent ships from hitting docks while berthing. ACP Odai said the collaborative efforts of the security agencies were commendable, adding "Ghanaians should feel at ease because the security agencies are very vigilant."