The Interior Minister has said the police administration will use reasonable force to confront and apprehend criminals terrorising Ghanaians.

This was after Ambrose Dery held a closed-door meeting with members of the Defence and Interior committees of Parliament on steps being taken to protect the citizenry.

Mr Dery, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante and the top brass of the police administration were in parliament to brief the House on circumstances that led to a jailbreak at the Kwabenya police station.

The station was attacked by a group of six vagabonds who stormed it in Rambo style Sunday dawn and succeeded in liberating seven suspects who were in police custody.

The attack resulted in the death of a police officer and the freeing of seven suspected armed robbers on remand.

But addressing the media after the meeting with MPs, the Interior Minister said the police is making progress in their attempt to arrest the escapees.

He also assured the Service is up to the challenge of protecting the country.

“We have different levels of shortfalls first of all from the personnel level. We have 1:800 civilians, the UN says 1:500.

“Government is starting some recruitment with 2000 people. We need to do more and government is committed.

The president has given 200 vehicles, 400 motorbikes and that is because we are beginning to face crime now using motorbikes. There is also the digital interventions.

For his part, the IGP, said his men are motivated to fight crime despite the loss of their colleague.

“Things that have happened is not going to break our resolve. We are motivated to protect lives and properties of the people of this country,” he said.

He assured that they are upping their game to maintain law and order.

Ranking member of Defence and Interior Committee, James Agalga said they are satisfied with answers, strategies and plans of the police to deal with crime. 

He said the killing of police officers was becoming one too many after some officers were recently killed in Agogo while on duty. 

Mr Agalga, however, called on the Interior Minister to make good his promise to retool and resource the Service to enable it to work to its utmost capacity.