A GH¢2,500 (250 million-cedi) Police Station, built by the chiefs and people of Akyem Apinamang in the Kwaebibirem District, was inaugurated on Wednesday.

Mr S B Mettle, Commissioner of Police in-charge of Technical Services, expressed his delight that for the last few years there had been a growing demand from communities to provide police stations and that the requests were expanding.

He said the concern shown in some areas over-shadowed even the social needs for schools, hospitals, electricity and water, thus under-scoring the fact that people placed great value on security that would ensure their personal safety and their property.

The COP said the situation was in the right direction since violent crimes were engulfing the nation "as if they descended from outer space".

"All and sundry are potential victims of crime, most significantly are women, children and the vulnerable in society", he said.

Mr Mettle noted that abduction, trafficking in human being, rape, stealing, murders and narcotic drug offences were growing and these were making people unsafe and apprehensive for their lives.

He said some had blamed the media for highlighting crime in communities and therefore creating a sense of insecurity among the people.

Whatever it was, the sense of insecurity the situation had generated was fuelling the request to have more police stations in communities, so that police presence could discourage criminals and give the people some hope, peace and freedom to go about their legitimate activities.

Mr Mettle said it was therefore re-assuring when communities and concerned people showed a willingness to partner the police to see "our way clear in the provision of the police stations for our communities".

He said it was in that regard that the chief and people of Akyem Apinamang deserved high commendation for mobilizing resources to construct the Akyem Apinamang Police Station.

The COP commended Osabarima Oware Asare Pinkro III, chief of Akyem Apinamang, who is also a Police Officer for rallying the elders and people to undertake the project.

He appealed to other traditional rulers to emulate Nana Pinkro by mobilizing resources for the construction of police stations in their various areas of authority.

Nana Apinamanghene, said the building of the police station began in February, this year, to protect the people and to deal with criminals and law-breakers.

He urged his people to do away with apathy and to assist him to transform the township.

The Kwaebibirem District Chief Executive Mr Yaw Yiadom-Boakye lauded the chiefs, people of Apinamang for the project and said the Assembly would assist communities that were prepared to help themselves.

Mr Kwabena Sintim-Aboagye, West Akyem District Chief Executive said the 21-kilometre road from Osenase through Akenteng and Kobriso to Apinamang had been awarded on contract as part of the Cocoa Producing Areas' Needs Improvement Project at the cost of 1.68 million dollars.


Source: GNA