Substantiate bribe allegation- Police Command

The Central Regional Police Command has thrown a challenge to persons, who have made allegation of bribery against some of its men, to substantiate their claim.

A release signed by the Regional Commander, Yaw Adu-Gyimah at Cape Coast on Wednesday said the Policemen, who were detailed to supervise the demolishing of a building suspected to be the den of criminals in Cape Coast have denied collecting any money.

A national daily reported that some Policemen allegedly collected more than five million cedis to allow the suspected criminals to carry off stolen items and narcotic drugs.

The release explained that a week ago, Minuru Arafat Nuhu, Municipal Chief Executive, went to the Police in connection with the building, which he said had been earmarked for demolishing with the consent of its owner and that he wanted them to carry out a raid before it was brought down since it was believed to be a den for criminals.

It said as a result, nine Policemen led by an Assistant Superintendent, who it did not name, accordingly carried out a dawn swoop the following day but did not uncover any such drugs or "incriminating items" and informed the assembly.

On Tuesday, the day on which the demolishing exercise was to have taken place, the Municipal Building Inspector, Robert Essuman-Mensah, came to see the Deputy Regional Commander, P. K. Ampewuah, to inform him that the owner of the building had arrived in town and that he wanted some Policemen to assist in the exercise.

Three Policemen were, therefore, detailed with "specific instructions to back out if they did not meet the said Landlady, since the Police did not want to be entangled in a law suit," the release said.

It said the Policemen backed out as instructed because they did not meet the Landlady and accordingly informed their superiors.

It noted that the Police were not mandated to demolish dilapidated buildings with an order of a court, in which case the Police give protection to bailiffs.

"The Police involvement in this particular case of intended demolition was to assist the owner to protect any property worth picking from the debris", it emphasised.