New Police station commissioned at Sokode-Bagble

As part of efforts to enhance security as well as  maintain law and order within the Ho municipality of the Volta region a new police station has been commissioned in the area.

The facility located at Sokode-Bagble along the Ho-Accra highway, was solely financed by a Ho based businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Joe Ayivor popularly known as ‘Afelotto’.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Mr. Ayivor said the increasing incidents of robbery and burglary including recent attacks on fuel service stations  within the area necessitated his intervention. 

According to him, the absence of a police installation  in the area  hinders the early response of the police to crime alerts, and  recounted how  he had to drive several kilometers at night  to Ho to get a police patrol team to respond to a robbery attack on his fuel service station a year ago.

“From Sokode-lokoe to Anyinawase, there is no police post, so all communities within that stretch are in danger in terms of any criminal attacks. That's why I decided to support the communities here.”

The new police station which is the third in the municipality, comprises of a charge office, office for the station officer, male and female cells with modern washrooms. The offices are fully furnished with, computer set, furniture, air-condition, television, refrigerator set, potable water with a reservoir among others.    

Volta Police Allay Fears of Asogli Chiefs over 'insecurity'

DCOP Yentumi-Gyinae

The Volta Regional Police command has allayed the fears of Chiefs of the Asogli State in Ho and residents that the security situation in the Volta Regional capital is under maximum control.

According to the Regional Commander, DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae “we are in total control and that Chiefs and people of Ho should be rest assured.” He noted that a few incidents should not be exaggerated to mean the worst was happening in Ho.

DCOP Gyinae gave the assurance in a brief rejoinder  to allay the fears of Ho residents. 
The rejoinder was in reaction to a publication by the Ghana News Agency headlined “Asogli Warriors to Take over Security in Ho, in which some Chiefs the Asogli State reportedly registered their displeasure about the security situation during a press briefing in Ho and urged the Police to sit up else, their duties will be taken over by the Asogli warriors.

Most  media houses however have confirmed they neither heard of nor were present at the said press briefing.

But reacting to the observations of the Chiefs and content of the publication, the Regional Police Command was grateful to the Chiefs for their observations saying “The Police will not begrudge the Chiefs for making an observation about issues pertaining in Ho.”

Asogli chiefs threaten to deploy Warriors to provide security of Ho

The chiefs of the Asogli State in Ho, on Monday threatened to send Asogli Warriors to the street to take over the security of the Volta Regional capital.

This follows the current daily incidents and reports of robbery in the Municipality, which increased during the yuletide, and is continuing. Aside the break-ins are muggings on streets and alleys.

Before the Christmas, there were robbery cases at Mawuli Estate, SSNIT Flats, Voradep Village and ‘B’ Quarters.

Two medical doctors and a few others were also robbed last week at Goshen City, Adzroe Street and in communities opposite offices of the Regional Police Command.

The robbers tied some of their victims with robes and allegedly raped the women.

Togbe Howusu the Twelfth, Warlord of the Asogli State, at a press briefing, chastised the Police in Ho for concentrating on check points outside Ho at night, and said indications were that residents had confidence in them.

Confiscate Disputed Nkonya-Alavanyo Land - Police Commander

DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae

In an attempt to end the protracted land dispute characterized by sporadic shootings and attacks between the people of Nkonya and Alavanyo in the Volta Region, the Volta Regional Police Commander has recommended the confiscation of the said land by government.

According to the Deputy Commander of Police, DCOP Peterkin Yentumi Gyinae in order for the Police and other Security agencies to fully prevent shootings and attacks “government needs to confiscate the land and turn it into a Police or Military camp;” thus a jungle training facility for the security forces.

He believes that when this is done it will make it difficult if not entirely stop assailants from hiding in the bushes to shoot, maim and murder people in cold blood as is currently the case. DCOP Gyinae made the recommendation in an interview with Daily Guide in Volta region’s Capital, Ho.

The move will also thwart the claims by residents that the combined Police and Security personnel were doing little to prevent the sporadic attacks and counter attacks and for that matter unable to secure their lives.

The Regional Commander noted that it was not prudent for security officers to secure the bushes and leave residents in the towns, because the assailants could also take advantage of that to attack in the communities. He also explained that the negligence of residents to clear bushes close to their homes also created a congenial habitat for assailants to attack.

Alavanyo chiefs invoke deity after Soldier Assailants

Traditional leaders at Alavanyo in Hohoe Municipality are said to have invoked the wrath of the gods on the unknown assailants who opened fire on a military man who was on peace keeping in the area on Thursday afternoon.

The assailants were said to have escaped into a nearby bush after they shot Lance Coporal William Bedford who have gone to the bush to urinate.

According to the chiefs the rituals which was performed at the scene of the attack, will compel the assailants to own up or the wrath of the gods will be visited on them and their families.

Lance Coporal Bedford is part of a team of security personnel deployed in the area to maintain peace following sporadic communal clashes between the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya.

Though, the motive behind the attack is not yet known, Police sources said the incident has no link with the age old communal conflict but believe it may be a case of settling "personal scores".

MPs assess Ebola Preparedness at Aflao border

Regional minister (in cap) with Fritz Baffour (m) and other Cittee members

Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior have paid a day’s working visit to the Aflao border in the Ketu-south Municipality of the Volta region to assess the security situation and the necessary preparations put in place to prevent the deadly Ebola virus from entering the country.

The border is the major transit point to Ghana’s eastern neighbours of Togo, Benin and Nigeria, which has reported cases of the disease that has plagued three other West African countries including Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Briefing the Committee members on the preparations to combat the deadly virus, the Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Joseph Teye Nuertey said since news on the outbreak of the disease broke in April, the Health authorities  and other stakeholders has embark on consistent public education programmes on the disease as well as training of frontline health officials.

He disclosed that 20 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) which the region received, were distributed among the Port Health Department at the border and two hospitals out of six health facilities designated to deal with the disease. The two are the Aflao Government hospital and the Regional hospital in Ho, excluding the Jasikan, Hohoe, Sogakofe, Nkwanta hospitals because of the inadequacy of the PPEs.

Ho Municipality to get five new Police posts

Ariel View of Ho Central Market

In a bid to ensure the security and safety of residents, the Ho Municipal Assembly is to open five new police posts in the Municipality Mrs Fafa Adinyira, the Assembly Chief Executive has announced.

She said the additional police posts had become necessary in view of the increasing population and the relative high crime rate in the area.

Communities likely to benefit from the new police post, according to MCE are fast developing areas, such as Sokode, Adaklu, Matse, Akoefe and Hodzo , while the Ho Central Police Station would be given a facelift befitting a Municipal status.

Mrs Adinyira who was addressing a recent Town Hall meeting, said the Assembly was in talks with traditional authorities of beneficiary communities and called for support from all.

Security in the Volta regional capital has become a major concern following the increase in tertiary institutions and other business centres including financial institutions.

In recent times there have been reported cases homes and shops burglary, including robbing of fuel service stations, among others.

The forum was organised by Community Development Concerns, a civil society organization with support from the Assembly and the Netherlands Development Organization under the Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability project.

Madam Joycelyn Akorfa Ochlich, Executive Director, CDC, said the Town Hall meeting was geared towards ensuring good governance and her outfit would organise another by the end of the year.