Ashiaman Divisional Police Command bemoans inadequate logistics and infrastructure

By: Benjamin Xornam Glover, ASHIAMAN The Ashiaman Divisional Police Command has bemoaned the inadequate number of operational vehicles, office equipment, official and residential accommodation among others challenges facing the service. The command has therefore appealed to the Ashiaman Municipality and other stakeholders to support the service by providing all the necessary support, to enable the personnel execute their duties efficiently and professionally. The Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) Mr Jonathan Ametepe Adams-Godoe made this known during the annual get-together dubbed “West Africa Security Service Association (WASSA), which was organized by the Ashiaman Divisional Police Command to review their performance in 2013. The annual programme is meant to refresh police officials for working throughout the year, and reward those who had distinguished themselves in their areas of operation. Challenges ACP Adams-Godoe said in spite of the challenges the service was facing, the personnel have and would continue to discharge their duties dispassionately by clamping down on some of the criminal activities that could have jeopardized the lives of the citizenry. He said the command has not been able to fully deal with okada menace adding that the more they step up their operations against the okada business, the more daring the operators become. That notwithstanding, he said the police will not relents in its effort to curb the nuisance. The Divisional Commander said the police despite its logistic and infrastructure challenges, the service have been able to reduce crime especially violent ones to its barest minimum as a result of the arrest of some leaders of the armed gangs Initiative ACP Adams-Godoe said the Command had come up five major projects which it intends to carry out by the end of 2014 to provide the minimum serene work place environment to enhance service delivery in the municipality. These projects are the fencing and landscaping of the existing divisional headquarters at Kaketo, construction of a new Ashaiman Divisional Headquarters Complex , relocation of the old police barrier to a new place at Shai hills, refurbishment and equipping of the Divisional offices and installation of a standby generator set for the divisions’ offices. He called on the public to support the initiative to enable the service to achieve the defined targets aimed at reducing crime in the area. Image rebuilding On image rebuilding, ACP Adams-Godoe said commenced a programme on a local radio station, Sena Radio where senior police officers make appearance to educate and sensitize the public on the need to be security consciousness. He also disclosed that three new police stations will be opened to serve communities which are constantly harassed by armed robbers. haphazard construction The Tema Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCOP) Mrs Beatrice Z. Vib-Sanziri said the police was facing huge challenge in terms of the haphazard way buildings in the municipality and its environs were sited stressing that the situation has made response to calls to crime scenes or areas very difficult. She called on the public to cooperate with the police, by providing useful information that would help reduce crime and other acts of indiscipline in the municipality. commendation The Member of Parliament for Ashiaman, Mr Alfred Agbeshi expressed his appreciation to the police service for their great performance which has led to an improvement in the security situation in the area and urged them to keep making the area a better and safe place to live. He also called on the residents to be law abiding and desist from acts that will warrant police arrest and prosecution The Municipal Chief Executive for Ashiaman, Mr Ibrahim Baidoo gave the assurance that the assembly would continue to support the police service with the entire all the necessary support, to enable the personnel execute their duties efficiently and effectively. -end- writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh