By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Aug 26, GNA – Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister, says the Government is retooling the security services in the Upper East Region to enable them to effectively fight crime and combat threats of terrorism.
He said the political instability and activities of terrorists in the Sahelian countries put Ghana at risk and reiterated the government’s resolve to increasing the presence of security personnel in the region to ensure people went about their activities without fear.
“The Upper East in general has always been on high alert because of our border situation and because of the jihadists in those countries, therefore government intends to make sure that this region is up to the task in case of anything at all,” he said.
Speaking at the inauguration of an edifice for the Bolgatanga Divisional Police Command, Mr Yakubu said government was in the process of posting 183 personnel to augment those in the region to improve security.
“These personnel are specially trained and they are coming to complement the staff that are already here to help with the internal security and also anything that might come,” he said.
The security situation had not been favourable in recent times, he said, however, the major stakeholders were working to improve it and called for public support.
The Regional Minister said government was also committed to providing the necessary logistics to the security personnel to help them effectively ensure the peace and safety of Ghanaians.
He said apart from the porous borders, which needed to be strengthened, the presence of refugees at the Bawku enclave as a result of terrorists’ attacks in Burkina Faso called for vigilance to prevent any spillover, adding; “That is why we are going to have more soldiers, police personnel and more logistics.”
The Bolgatanga Divisional Police Command was inaugurated in 2020 but had been operating in a three-room canteen of the Ghana Police Service due to lack of infrastructure.
With leadership from the outgoing Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Dr Sayibu Gariba, the structure had been developed into a modern edifice with eight rooms, six washrooms, kitchenette and a car park, among other facilities.
Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr Dela Kwasi Dzansi, the Bolgatanga Divisional Police Commander, commended DCOP Dr Gariba who is now the Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, for making the project his brainchild.
He said fighting crime was a shared responsibility and encouraged stakeholders to assist the police to effectively operate.
“Having seen this means that there is much work to be done and we urge every person to help us in the course of fighting crime.”
GNA