Personnel of the rover unit on display. INSET: DCOP Sarpong delivering his speech
The Greater Accra Regional Police Command is set to deploy 1,200 personnel to maintain law and order during Christmas.
The personnel would be deployed to prevent crime at public places such as shopping malls, worship centres in Accra.
The Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Adusei Sarpong, made the disclosure when he addressed about 350 personnel from the Greater Accra Regional Command on Monday, December 17 2018.
The purpose of the gathering was to launch this year’s Operation Father Christmas of the command.
The operation, which is carried out annually by the police, is aimed at tackling the activities of criminals during the festive season that is characterised by a lot of economic activities and public gatherings.
DCOP Sarpong also indicated that the police would conduct more swoops at criminal hideouts and dens within the capital.
He said the use of motorbikes in committing violent crimes was a major challenge.
“There shall be visible presence of the police in communities and residential areas who would respond rapidly to distress situations,” he said.
He advised the business operators who would be handling huge amounts of money to call for police assistance, if necessary.
The police chief further advised small-scale business operators such as mobile money vendors, utility bills payment joints and mobile airtime card agents to take precautionary measures by reporting suspicious characters to the police.
The Commander of the Accra Central Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD), ACP Anderson Fosu-Ackaah also revealed that an additional 400 personnel from the MTTD would be deployed to control the traffic in the capital during the period.
He said police personnel would work from 6am to 9pm each day so as to ensure free flow of traffic.
ACP Anderson Fosu-Ackaah advised pedestrians and other road users to abide by road traffic regulations and other safety measures.
The police earlier conducted a swoop to arrest some 108 suspected criminals and impound 51 motorbikes.
The police stormed the Arts Centre, Tudu and Kwame Nkrumah Circle behind the Vodafone building during the operation.
By Issah Mohammed