Lack of accommodation hampers police recruitment

Page 13, March 15, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

THE Minister of Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels yesterday told Parliament that the Police Service is unable to recruit more police personnel to man the various districts because of lack of accommodation.
He said the government was, therefore sourcing for funds to enable it provide permanent office and residential accommodation for police stations lacking these facilities.
Mr Bartels said this when he appeared before the House to answer questions posed by a number of Members of Parliament on issues concerning his ministry.
He said most landlords renting their houses to the police were demanding their property back due to low rates being offered them as rents.
Mr Bartels explained that though the issue of the provision of accommodation to the police was the responsibility of both the ministry and district assemblies, they had not been able to meet that obligation due to lack of funds.
Answering a question posed by the MP for Ahafo-Ano South, Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado-Manu, he stated that while efforts were being made to provide accommodation for the police stations lacking such facilities, the district assemblies should assist to provide accommodation to police personnel posted to their areas.
The MP told the House in his question that Mpasaaso Number Two in his constituency currently had only one police officer at post.
He assured the minister that the Ahafo-Ano North District Assembly had made accommodation ready and appealed to him to post more policemen to the area.
In another development, the wanted to enquire MP for Tolon, Mr Razaq A Omar enquired from the minister why a police station, which was built at Tolon in 2004 would be put to use.
Mr Bartels said the station had not been put to use because no accommodation was added to the station when it was constructed and gave assurance that efforts were being made to provide accommodation to ensure that the station was put to use.
He also told the House that the recent decision by the Police Administration to ban police checkpoints with the exception of a few was informed by the behaviour of some policemen who misconduct themselves when they were assigned duties at such checkpoints.
When it was the turn of the MP for Odododiodoo, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie-Komme the ministry would fence the James Town Police Station to prevent the land from encroachment.
Mr Bartels urged the police personnel at the station to be vigilant to ensure that the land was not encroached upon until the ministry secured funds for the fencing of the station.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu laid four papers before the House for consideration.
They are the Customs, Excise (Duties and other Taxes) (Amendment) Bill, the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, the National Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill and the 2007 Supplementary Appropriation Bill