Police receive new Land Rovers, motor bikes

The acting Interior Minister, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, yesterday handed over 100 Land Rover vehicles and 30 Yamaha motor bikes valued at ? 2. 320 million to the Ghana Police Service.

They form part of a consignment of 600 vehicles the government promised to procure for the service to enable it to fight crime and other social vices in the country. This brings to 192, the number of vehicles so far presented to the police.

Making the presentation, Dr Addo-Kufuor said it shows the government’s determination to equip the police to fight crimes and indiscipline on the roads.

Dr Addo-Kufuor, who is also the Minister of Defence, said the provision of logistics has strengthened the police in their fight against crimes adding that “in the past week there has been a reduction in robbery cases in the country”.

He asserted that statistics from the CID show that armed robbery cases have been drastically reduced to 42.9 per cent.

He noted that apart from the Accra Region, which recorded one robbery case, the rest of the regions did not record any case.

Dr Addo-Kufuor asked the Police Administration to ensure that the vehicles are put to proper use in the fight against all types of crimes in the country.

The Inspector-General of Police, Nana Stephen Owusu-Nsiah, expressed appreciation to the government for the gesture. He said the provision of logistics has raised the spirit of policemen and are more than determined to give their best in the fight against crime.

Nana Owusu-Nsiah said divisional commanders will be held personally responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles to ensure their longer lifespan.

He announced that Mechanical Lloyd Company, local representatives of Land Rover will offer maintenance for three years and organise training for the drivers to ensure that the vehicles are properly taken care of.