Let Estate Developers build police stations-IGP

Kumasi, May 22, GNA- Mr. Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, Inspector General of Police (IGP), has suggested to metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to consider amending their by-laws to make it compulsory for estate developers to build police stations in communities they develop to cater for the security needs of the people. He said this would help address the situation where large communities had only a police station with a small number of personnel. Mr. Acheampong noted that it was becoming difficult for government alone to shoulder such responsibilities because of its numerous commitments, and encouraged private developers to assist in that direction.

The IGP said this when he paid a courtesy call on Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive at her office as part of his week-long working visit to police installations in the Ashanti region.

Mr. Acheampong said residents of communities springing up faced serious threats from armed robbers and other criminals mainly because they were very far from police stations.

He said as a temporary measure, the police had intensified patrols at such areas to ward off criminals, but a more permanent solution was for estate developers to take the responsibility of helping to address the security concerns of their clients. Mr. Acheampong noted that insufficient vehicles needed to cover all the areas identified to be prone to criminal activities hamper police patrols.

He commended the government for the number of vehicles it had secured for the Service over the years.

He said the police was awaiting the delivery of more vehicles expected to arrive in the country soon and gave the assurance that the vehicles would be committed to highway and other patrol duties. The IGP commended the Atwima Nwabiagya, Ahafo Ano North and Amansie West district assemblies for their assistance to the police by putting up an office and residential accommodation for personnel in their areas. He said for a district to achieve its set targets, adequate security was an important ingredient and that the chief executives should strive to ensure that their people operated in safer environment. Madam Appiagyei on her part stated that security had become an important issue in view of the increasing crime rates in the metropolis. She said the assembly was prepared to do all it could to assist the police maintain law and order and assured the IGP that his concerns would be addressed to ensure adequate security measures, especially during the CAN 2008 tournament.