The Eastern Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Stephen Andoh-Kwoffie has called for the establishment of a security fund to improve facilities for police and other security agencies. He explained that the fund was necessary because the annual budgetary allocation for the agencies could not solve all their problems and stressed the need for more effective mobilization and implementation of the talk tax on mobile phones so a percentage is used to support the fund. DCOP Andoh-Kwoffie made the call when Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, presented some mattresses and blankets to police personnel sleeping under staircases at the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters in Koforidua. The presentation was in reaction to a Ghana News Agency report that the police personnel who had been transferred to the region were sleeping under the staircase at the regional headquarters for lack of accommodation. He noted that the Ghana Education Fund was established to help improve educational facilities in the country and a fund could also be established to improve facilities for the security agencies. DCOP Andoh-Kwoffie pointed out that problems of the Ghana Police Service included accommodation, infrastructure, vehicles and other logistics that require a fund with constant inflows to ensure effective policing and better conditions for the other security agencies. According to DCOP Andoh-Kwoffie, former Director-General of Finance and Administration of Ghana Police Service, the budgetary allocation was not enough to provide for their needs therefore there was the need for government to consider other sources of revenue for the police. He noted that with the use of mobile phones by many Ghanaians it would not be difficult to generate enough revenue for the fund for the police, adding “the occasional support from organizations and philanthropist were not enough to solve problems facing the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies in the country.” Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the presentation was an interim measure while efforts were made to improve their accommodation problems. He pledged Government’s commitment to provide better facilities and conditions of service for the police and urged them to be patient. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said despite the problems of the police, an Eastern Regional Security Committee (REGSEC) report revealed that, crime rate was on the decline in the Region and commended the police for their vigilance and professionalism even in the face of constraints. He said it was necessary for Government to institute a fund to improve the facilities for the police and other security agencies since budgetary allocation alone could not help improve their conditions with regard to the deplorable state of police barracks and other structures in the Region. Source: GNA