Fraudulent activities including cyber crime, deceit and voodooism topped criminal cases in Central Region this year with 297 reported cases as compared to last year, which saw 211 cases. This was followed by death cases, which increased from 167 last year to 173 in 2009 with the rest which were; armed robbery 24-49, defilement; 45-38, murder; 9-7, possessing of narcotic drugs 5-8 and rape with the least of 5 to 6 reported cases this year. The Central Regional Commander of Police, DCOP Kampara Akayire disclosed this at a workshop organised for journalists and media practitioners in the region. The Regional Coordinating Council organised it to give the various departments the opportunity to explain their operations to journalists in the region as the year ends. The departments include; Regional Planning Coordinating Unit, CEDECOME, Education, Health, Agric, Feeder Roads, Highways Authority, Electricity, Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Urban Roads, Fire Service and the Police Service. On armed robbery, the police commander urged the media to intensity their education on the robbery situation in the country, indicating that even though the issue is not as high as in other places, the region also has its share of armed robber cases. He said the robbers also thrive on information so in their bid to educate the populace the media should exercise extra care. He indicated that 153 lives were lost through motor accidents in the region as at the first quarter of this year and attributed the cause to over speeding by some sweeping vehicles, illegal extension of passenger vehicles to take more than the capacity of the vehicles and passengers call to drivers to speed. DCOP Kampara mentioned some areas the police are tackling as domestic violence and chieftaincy disputes. Heads of the other departments also took turns to address the media. In an address, the Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe congratulated the journalists for their cooperation towards the RCC and hoped that cordial relationship would continue in the ensuing year and thanked the chiefs and people for seeing her through her first year successfully. Source: Ghanaian Observer/Ghana