From William N-lanjerborr Jalulah
Barely two months after assumption of office as Bongo District Commander for the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Paul A. Ankan has observed that assault cases topped the list of crimes committed in the district. Stealing, accusation of witchcraft and causing harm were also mentioned as serious crimes committed in the same area.
Though the Commander fell short of providing statistics of the various offences, he insisted that the situation needed concerted efforts to reducing crime rate to its barest minimum, as he charged people of the area, especially the youth, to always restrain themselves from their dealings with others, which had the potential of igniting confrontations among them.
ASP Ankan made these revelations at Bongo during a community forum to interact with police personnel, and create awareness on security issues. Addressing a packed hall of residents, some heads of departments and police personnel, the Commander, however, commended the people of Bongo for the peace so far, especially, this farming season.
According to him, his experience in areas he had worked before taking over the Bongo Command revealed that the farming season was the peak period when high numbers of cases such as community clashes over land, as well as causing damage to crops by animals, were recorded.
“I have worked in Sunyani, Takoradi and we recorded several cases of this nature, but here, I awake up to see people confining their animals to specific areas, and I am very happy,” he stated. Another area ASP Ankan raised a concern was the manner in which residents rode motorbikes without crash helmets and registration. He hinted his outfit’s preparedness to tackle this menace, and called on the people to be cooperative to ensure the laws are adhered to.
On their part, the District Chief Executive for Bongo, Alexis Ayamdor, and the Paramount Chief for Bongo, Naba Lebgiyarum Baba Salifu, welcomed the new Commander and thanked him for the initiative.
They pledged their support to enable him succeed, and, therefore, called on the people of Bongo to obey the laws, while urging them to see the police as peace-makers. Meanwhile, ASP Ankan has stated that he is going to extend the education forum to other communities in the district and second cycle institutions, so as to avert possible violent acts by students in the district.