General News of Thursday, 6 November 1997

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Police Shouldn't Demand Money For Bail - Commander

Twifu Praso (Central Region), 5 Nov., The Twifu Hemang Lower Denkyira District commander of the Ghana Police Service, Mr Kobina Adjei, has said that it is unlawful for the police to demand money before allowing suspects to be bailed. Mr Adjei said one can pay money for bailing a suspect only when the suspect absconds. This money must be paid at the courts and not to the police. He was speaking on the ''Protection of fundamental human rights, the role of the police'' at a public forum organised by the district secretariat of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) at Twifu Praso. The district commander deplored the attitude of people who intimidate the police when they try to arrest suspected criminals. He said the police should not be seen as enemies but rather as friends who have been assigned the responsibility to protect life and property. On the question of sending bodies to the mortuary for autopsy, Mr Adjei said though it is the responsibility of the police, logistic constraints usually compel them to involve the relatives of the deceased. Mr Dan Yorke-Essel, the district director of NCCE spoke on the role of the citizen in the protection of the environment. The District Chief Executive, Mr M.K. Amponsah called on the commission to intensify its programmes to educate the people on national issues.