GRIME ALERT- Police remove roadblocks to combact lawlessness (Lead Story)

13/03/2008
Story: Mary Mensah
THE Ghana Police Service has announced a review of its road check operations with a view to intensifying the hunt for illegal arms and ammunition and combating armed robbery and other forms of violent crime.
Consequently, night snap checks have been intensified across the country and all checkpoints mounted by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service have been removed until further notice.
The Director of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, DSP Kwesi Ofori, who disclosed the measures to the Daily Graphic, said as part of the new measures, ECOWAS and NEPAD approved barriers would be operational for 24 hours to facilitate the free flow of goods and persons within the West African sub-region.
He mentioned the Doblo Barrier in the Eastern Region, the Fulfuso, Pwalugu and Paga barriers, all on the northern corridor, as those which would operate 24 hours.
He said on the western corridor, the Kokrobite and the Half Assini barriers, the Ningo and Sogakope barriers on the eastern corridor and the Denu and Agbozome Junction barriers in the Volta Region would be operational.
DSP Ofori said all others, such as the Nungua and Afienya barriers, would not operate during the day but night snap checks in and around the area would be intensified to check criminal activities.
He said from April 1 to 5, 2008, the Police Administration would embark on a special nation-wide massive motor check operation to cover the whole country, during which the police would check the road worthy and insurance certificates of all motorbikes.
DSP Ofori said from the middle to the end of March the police would organise public education forums at vantage points to sensitise members of the public, especially drivers, to the importance of the two documents.
He said the police were urging organisations and all security personnel who drove without insurance and road worthy certificates to, as a matter of urgency, acquire them before the beginning of April.
The director said the aim of the exercise was to ensure compliance with motor traffic laws and reduce the number of barriers within the country to the barest minimum to facilitate the free flow of goods and persons.
He urged members of the public, especially drivers, to co-operate with the police during the exercise.
DSP Ofori said the absence of day motor checks would enable the police to have enough men to respond to situations that needed prompt attention and enforcement.
In recent times the police have come under intense criticism following the number of road checks and barriers on the various roads which cause traffic in some areas for several hours.
From Accra to Cape Coast one can count about seven or eight road blocks to check documents and licences.