Police get hard on armed robbery gangs

Kumasi, June 17, GNA--The police have arrested 23 armed robbery gangs in the Kumasi metropolis between January and June this year.

Mr Yaw Adu-Gyimah, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, who made this known, said some of those arrested are in prison custody while others had been jailed.

He was addressing representatives of the Ashanti Region Petroleum Retailers Association who had called on him at his office in Kumasi to discuss ways of upgrading the level of security at filling stations in Kumasi plagued by increased armed raids in recent times.

The Police Commander said in spite of constraints in logistics and manpower, "we are doing our best to provide adequate security for all in the metropolis".

Mr Adu-Gyimah explained that of the 22 police vehicles in Kumasi, only eight are in use adding " even with these, some are not strong enough for effective patrol duties".

He said since the filling stations by all accounts "are vulnerable to armed attacks by robbers, it is important for the managers to introduce some form of security arrangement to meet us half way".

He advised them not to hesitate to report to the police suspicious characters they notice in their stations.

Mr George Ayisi-Boateng, Manager of the Asafo Goil Filling Station, said they appreciated efforts being made by the police to provide security in Kumasi and but pleaded that night patrols should be stepped up, especially at filling stations.

He said " we cannot continue to operate under constant threat of insecurity."