Yamoah-Ponkoh causes stir; calls for transfer of police officers

The Municipal Chief Executive for Ejisu-Juabeng, Afrifah Yamoah-Ponkoh, caused stir at a public function on Thursday to inaugurate Divisional police headquarters when he openly asked the police administration to transfer some personnel from the area.

He said the conduct of the some officers whose names he attempted to mention, contradicts the new security demands of the municipality.

He was addressing guests, including the Inspector of General of Police, Mohammed Alhassan, other senior officers, traditional authorities led by the Ejisumanhene Oguakuro Afrane Okesse IV.

M. Yamoah-Ponkoh started, “I wish to take this opportunity to put on record that; as a head of security in this municipality, in my capacity as the Municipal Chief Executive; I am not happy with the conduct of some policemen within this Ejisu-Juaben Municipality”.

He continued; “to this end, I humbly appeal to the Inspector General of Police to transfer with immediate effect, all these policemen”.

There was wild murmuring among the gathering when the MCE said he had wanted to mention names of personnel he wanted transferred. “As head of security in this municipality, I am compelled to even mention names. These policemen must be transferred immediately to save the good name of this municipality,” Mr. Yamoah-Ponkoh said.

But in a response, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi Boakye, will not give a definite answer except to say the police administration has taken note of the request.

"It is the expectation of the police administration represented by our Honorable IGP here that every policeman and woman will work according to the tenets and the ethics of the Ghana Police Service. Anything outside that would be a subject of disciplinary action. And we would not hesitate to take action against any policeman who goes against such tenets,” DCOP Kofi Boakye warned.

The edifice which befits modern policing status comes with a 6-unit accommodation facility funded by World Banks’ Urban Develop Fund. It comes with internally approved male, female and juvenile cells fitted with bathrooms and toilet facilities.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan commended the Mr. Afrifah Yamoah-Ponkoh-led assembly and the Ejisuhene, Oguakuro Afrane Okesse through whose collaboration the project came into being.

Mr. Alhassan called for effective collaboration between police and communities.

“Effective law enforcement today is indeed a shared responsibility between the police and the communities we serve. The mandate of any police organization such as ours can hardly be achieved without such collaborative efforts and support,” Mr. Alhassan said.

Meanwhile, some individuals and organizations have donated motorbikes to the newly inaugurated divisional command headquarters. They include Agyaba Jewelry, Nungua Warehouse Ghana Limited, among others.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com / Ohemeng Tawiah