Cape Coast: Police, Metro Taskforce Demolish Criminal Hideouts

A combined force of armed police officers from the Central Regional Police Headquarters and Cape Coast Metro Assembly Task-force on Thursday demolished some hideouts at Ntsen, a suburb of Cape Coast.

The police say the structures are dens for criminals from Cape Coast and others who have migrated from Mankessim, Ashiaman and other parts of the country.

The operation, which was led by the Deputy Central Regional Commander of Police, DCOP Enoch Adu-Twum Bediako, was to destroy the hideouts along the beach, close to the Cape Coast Castle, where the said criminals often stayed.

Speaking to journalists during the demolition exercise, DCOP Enoch Adu-Twum Bediako explained that, “the place (Ntsen) is very notorious for criminal activities; here is the place for all types of narcotic drugs, this is the place where they do the trading.”

He said the criminals within Cape Coast have been harboring others from other parts of the country in the illegal structures.

Ntsen has, for many years, has been tagged a criminal hub of Cape Coast and several arrests have taken place there in the past, but the activities of the criminals appear to be increasing.

DCOP Bediako said, “It is a fishing community where the inhabitants are hardworking, but it has been infiltrated by criminals from all over Ghana who converge here to operate.”

According to the police, crimes that emanate from the area range from petty robbery to armed robbery, and destabilizing the place is a way of bringing some sanity to Cape Coast and its surroundings.

The demolition exercise went on without resistance from the local people, and the police believe the exercise is a signal to all criminals that no hideout within Cape Coast will be spared.

Cape Coast will soon celebrate the Oguaa Fetu Afahye, and residents, as well as visitors, are apprehensive over the spate of crimes that usually come along with the celebration.

But the Deputy Regional Police Commander has assured people to remain positive about their security this year.

He assured the police is in charge of Cape Coast's security, and that residents should give their full support to the neighborhood watchdog committees to make the work of the police easier.