By: King Freeman Nutsukpoe | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Ho West District Police Commander, Supt Felicia Ayensu has assured residents of Abutia-Kloe and Vane communities in the Ho West District of the Volta Region that the days of police brutality, extortion and intimidation were over.
Madam Ayensu who was speaking at a community engagement organised by the Ho West Anti-Corruption Advocacy Committee under the project “Together against Corruption” assured the chiefs and people of the two communities that such acts of extortion in the name of bail acquisition would never be tolerated under her watch as the district commander.
The Committee, inaugurated on February 07, 2019 is tasked to provide education to the public and encourage citizens to report any corrupt act involving a police officer, investigate and provide redress to all cases of corruption involving police officers and facilitate public discussion on anti-corruption with the objective of raising awareness so people can say no to corruption.
The District Commander offering some education on bail bond and bail acquisition, driving and riding offenses, domestic violence and arresting procedures of the Ghana Police Service (GPS), encouraged the citizenry not to be “afraid to report police brutality and acts of corruption” to her office.
Secretary to the Committee, Israel Kpodo emphasised the need for community participation in the fight against corruption and urged people to support efforts of anti-graft organisations by report corrupt acts.
“Your society would develop faster if you actively participate in this fight and report acts of corruption without fear or favour.”
“Socioserve-Ghana, and their partners have provided us with the platform to discuss the hydra headed issues of corruption on our roads and communities. Report these acts and let’s chart a new path for ourselves and ensure accountability in all aspects of our community and national life,” Mr Kpodo added.
Ho West District Director, National Commission for Civic Education, Dodji Adjei informed the gathering that the role of the committee was not to name and shame anybody but to provide the platform for the people to understand the workings of the police and other state institutions so they could help remedy sins of the past.
Mr Adjei urged the people to visit other anti-corruption institutions including Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to report cases of police brutality, intimidation and extortion. He also gave out to the people, numbers to contact the Committee to freely report such cases without fear of intimidation from anybody.
The project by Socioserve-Ghana and partners, iWatch Africa and JMK Consulting Group is being implemented in 5 districts of Ghana; Akwapem North, Yilo Krobo, Upper Manya Krobo, North Tongu and Ho West districts to give capacity and space to citizens to lead the fight against corruption.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com