General News of Wednesday, 8 July 2009

Source: GNA

Obama's visit: Police says they are on top of game

Accra, July 8, GNA - Deputy Commissioner of Police Rose Bio-Atinga, Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, on Wednesday told the GNA that the Police Service was fully prepared to maintain security during President Barack Obama's visit.

"We are top of our game," she said.

Uniformed police officers have since Monday been placed at vantage points across the city of Accra, particularly at intersections and spots known for heavy motor traffic.

The police officers have virtually replaced all the staff of the traffic wardens, affectionately called "Yellow Police" drawn from the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

According to DCOP Bio-Atinga, the increased police presence was an indication of the preparedness of the service to provide adequate security during President Obama's visit. "But this will continue even after President Obama has come and gone," she said.

While GNA was at the Greater Accra Regional Police Headquarters, the GNA ran into about 100 officers from the Ghana Prisons Service in some form of mobilization exercise.

Meanwhile the police have announced that they would mobilise 10,000 security officers during the visit.