Brong Ahafo Police asked to combat illegal timber operations

Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, on Friday urged policemen, especially those at the barriers in the region to be vigilant and curb operations of illegal timber activities.

He expressed regret that despite numerous barriers at strategic points in the area illegal timber continued to slip through to local markets.

Mr Nyamekye-Marfo was speaking at a meeting of police personnel in the region to update the minister of the challenges facing the police, in Sunyani.

He pledged to recommend the promotion of any police officer who would apprehend persons or drivers who would attempted to smuggle timber logs through the barriers.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo appealed to the police to help educate the people about the law and to protect those who would volunteer information to them in order to win their confidence.

He commended the officers for maintaining security, law and order before and after Election 2008 but expressed concern about the involvement of some personnel in armed robbery and other crimes saying “this is not good enough”.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo urged the police to step up efforts in fighting highway robbery, bush fires and other negative acts, adding that the Regional Security Council (RCC) had done a lot to stem these acts but a lot still needed to be done.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Seth Charles Oteng, Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Commander, said the Police was confronted with problems such as lack of accommodation, office equipment and logistics.

He praised the media for assisting the police in educating the public on security issues aimed at crime prevention.

DCOP Oteng said currently the population of police in the region was inadequate and that records showed a ratio of one police to 1,200 people.

The Regional Police Commander thanked the RCC for supporting the police to carry out their work.