POLICE TO REVISE COMMUNITY POLICING — IGP DECLARES (BACK PAGE, OCT 29, 2010)

THE Police administration intends to intensify motorised and foot patrols in various towns and suburbs in the coming Christmas and New Year season.
As such, the joint police/military patrols, dubbed “Operation Calm Life”, which was re-invigorated through a joint training exercise, would be expanded to ensure regular patrols throughout the Yuletide.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, disclosed this at the inauguration of a new police station at the EMEFS Estate at Mataheko, near Afienya in the Dangme East District in the Greater Accra Region.
According to him, the concept of the community policing, where the police work hand in hand with inhabitants using local knowledge and resources, was being revised for the provision of security across all jurisdictions.
“It is in this light that we have entered into negotiations with our international partners to develop an all-inclusive programme that would serve the security needs of our communities,” Mr Quaye stated.
The project was constructed by EMEFS Construction Limited at the cost of GH¢426,000.
The new police station has, among other features, a charge office, male and female cells, and offices for both the station officer and the resident CID head, a multi-purpose hall with a seating capacity of 20, as well as residential facility to accommodate 12 personnel.
A double cabin pick-up valued at GH¢20,000 was also provided to personnel to facilitate the transportation needs of the station.
“The amount, although colossal, if compared to the services that will be rendered from the building, is an investment that is worth undertaking,” Mr Quaye said.
The IGP bemoaned the state of policing in the Greater Accra Region in view of the rapid developments of new and unplanned suburbs.
While commending the management of EMEFS for providing the facility, Mr Quaye called for the promulgation of a legislation that would ensure that estate developers incorporate the provision of police posts in their design before permits were issued to them for construction works.
The General manager of EMEFS Construction Limited, Mr Enoch Entsuah-Mensah, said the company’s decision to put up the post was informed by incidents of car-snatching along the Tema-Akosombo highway, where the estates are located.
The chairman of the residents association, Mr Francis Dadzie, charged districts, municipal and metropolitan assemblies to ensure the incorporation of security posts, as well as fire stations, in major development projects within their catchment areas.
Earlier in his welcoming address, the Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Augustine Gyening, expressed concern about the increasing rate of road accidents in the jurisdiction.