Police To Check Lawlessness In Ashaiman

Chief Superintendent David Eklu, Ashaiman Divisional Police Commander

THE ASHAIMAN Police has promised to leave no stone unturned to clamp down on lawlessness by enforcing the Public Order ACT (491) to check lack of control in the municipality and its environment.

According to the police, the act provided guidelines for persons to embark on special public events safely; consequently, any group of individuals who might embark on public events such as rallies, campaigns, among others had to first notify the police at least, five days before the occasion.

Chief Superintendent David Eklu, Ashaiman divisional police commander speaking at a stakeholder forum organized by Ashaiman Governance Forum (AGF) in Ashaiman, noted that any persons, who disregarded the act, did so at their own risk, as the police would not hesitate to clamp down on such wrongdoers, most especially, unlawful blocking of road in the municipality.

'Let us respect the Public Order Act so that all activities can go on peacefully without interruption. The notification should be submitted to a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police or other police officers responsible for the nearest police station to the location of the proposed special event.' He appealed.

He explained that the notification should contain the place, nature of the event, time of commencement of the event, proposed time of closure as well as the proposed route and destination of the event.

The Divisional Police Commander assured Ghanaians that the police would be available at all election centres across the country to provide an atmosphere conducive for the elections. He warned that the police would deal ruthlessly with anyone who would take the law into their own hands and cause confusion.

According to him, the police had adapted strategies to ensure that peace prevailed during all political activities in the country without chaos. He noted that 'violence does not win election but respect for law and order wins election.'

He therefore advised all individuals, religious, social and political groupings to refrain from engaging in activities that tended to contravene the Public Order Act.

Chief Superintendent Eklu reacting to some concerns raised by the residents noted that his outfit was investigating all information on alleged breaches of the law that had come to the attention of the police and assured the public that they were being investigated for the appropriate action to be taken.

He further urged residents to report any form of crime to the nearest police or call the police information room number 0302202936/7, 18555, 0303211601 for appropriate action and not take the law into their hands.

Mr. Innocent Agamadu, AGF project coordinator in an interview with DAILY GUIDE noted that the forum which was started since 2003 was to bridge the gap between the citizenry and service providers in Ashaiman.

He explained that the forum was also to improve upon the security situation in the municipality by bringing the police closer to the public to develop strategies which would go a long way to reduce crime in the municipality and its environs.

The stakeholder's forum which was attended by senior police officers within Ashaiman, opinion leaders, assembly members and some residents of and outside Ashaiman, discussed security challenges confronting the municipality needed to be dealt with by the police.

From Vincent Kubi, Ashaiman