Ho, Dec. 24, GNA - Reported cases of defilement in the Volta Region dropped from 147 in 2009 to 84 in 2010. "The region used to top the country in defilement cases but I am happy t= he situation has changed", Mr Joseph Amenowode, the Volta Regional Minister, said at a Mmeet-the-Press session in Ho on Thursday. He said the region also recorded a decline in reported murder cases from 53 in 2009 to 23 in 2010, rape from 29 cases down to 17 while attempte= d murder remained the same at eight cases apiece.

Regarding road safety, Mr Amenowode said the region recorded a slight improvement in reported road accidents which went down from 594 in 2009 to 590 in 2010. The number of people who were killed in road accidents in 2010 dropped to 113 from 194 in 2009. Assistant Commissioner of Police David Nenyi Ampah-Bennin, the Volta Regional Police Commander, told the GNA that the modest achievements were the result of commitment and dedication of police personnel who could achieve even higher feats with public support.