The Upper West Police Command has apologized profusely for yesterday’s raid at a local based radio station, Sungmaale in Wa where two radio panelists were arrested and radio equipment seized.

 At a press conference in Wa, Upper West regional police commander, ACP Kwesi Mensah Duku condemned the act by the six gun wielding police men led by the acting upper west public relations officer, ASP Edmund Adinkra Nyamekye.

The police arrested two political panelists for alleging that armed robbery was on the increase and that they knew where some of the robbers were being trained.

The regional commander, ACP Kwesi Mensah Duku said the police administration has deeply regreted the act but also condemned the comments made by the former Wa central youth organizer of the New Patriotic Party.

ACP Duku posited that that the NPP member had a responsibility to inform the police on where the robbers were being trained, instead of going to announce it on air.

However, he stated that the method used by the six gun wielding police men was unprofessional.

‘‘I will to say that the Inspector General of Police has condemned the action of the police. It wasn’t the best, they should have waited for the program to end and later invite the panelists for interrogation.

We could also have taken other options by inviting the management of the radio station after the program to assist as with information on the said allegation,’’ he added

He noted that the police and the media are the two major stakeholders in the fight against crime and cannot be on each others throat. He called on the media to put the issue behind them and work together as brothers to fight crime in the municipality.

‘‘As human institution there is bound to be friction as you all know but that friction should not divide us but it should rather strengthen us.

I want to reiterate that, what happened yesterday should put behind us. We are sorry….. it will never happen again," he pledged.

The two radio panelists have since been released unconditionally by the police whilst investigations continue to ascertain the veracity of the claims made.

Meanwhile the Upper West Regional secretary of the Ghana Journalist Association, Suala Abdul Wahab has condemned the act of the police yesterday. He stated that he expected the police to have learnt from a similar incident by the police which resulted in the media blackout of the police activities.

He added that the Upper West branch of the association will be meeting and will soon come out with a statement on the issue.