The Accra Regional Police Command says it is determined and would stop at nothing to obliterate activities of landguards within the national capital, Accra.
“We are going to wage a serious war against landguards; a war the police must win,” Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Alex Mensah, asserted.
Paying a courtesy call on management of Media General Group on Tuesday, the police chief said he and his men would have to resign from the Service if they are unable to defeat the activities of landguards.
The leadership of the Regional Command was at the media conglomerate to introduce the new Regional Commander and solicit support, especially in the fight against crime in Accra.
Over the years, lives and millions of properties have been lost to the operations of marauding gangs who use offensive weapons to terrorize people.
DCOP Mensah said the phenomenon of landguards has been identified as one of the problems in the Region that must be faced squarely.
“Whether the land belongs to you or not, you are not allowed to use force to protect your land. You have to use legal means,” he cautioned.
“Problem of landguard is a worry to many because people have their money and building materials but cannot build due to landguards.”
Watchdog Committee
The Regional Commander said the neighbourhood watchdog committee would be reintroduced to improve security within the communities.
“Crime is a shared responsibility which the community has a part to play and the media too has a bigger role to play in the fight,” DCOP George Mensah stated.
Media and Peace
Noting that the media is a key partner in maintaining peace and security in the region, he also emphasised the need for the media to be circumspect in reporting issues with security implication.
Sometimes media houses blow simple issues out of proportion to create unnecessary tension, he remarked, calling on the media to clear security issues with the police.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Media General, Pearl Esua-Mensah, who is also barely a month old in office, assured the Regional Command that the Group would not renege on its resolve to disseminate objective, accurate and credible information to the public.
She pledged the support of all the subsidiaries of Media General Group to the police and asked the Service to leverage on the partnership to promote policing in the country.
Investigative Journalism
The General Manager in charge of News at the Group, Joseph Warungu, announced that Media General would strengthen its investigative drive, noting that as a media outfit, the Group would rely heavily on the police for accurate information “to make our news more meaningful to our audience”.
The Media General Group comprises the online portal www.3news.com (MG Digital), TV3, 3FM 92.7, Onua 95.1FM , Connect 97.1 FM and Akoma 87.9 FM as well as Adesa Productions Limited (APL).
Also at the meeting were Head of TV at Media General, Beatrice Abbey, Chief Finance Officer Antwi Wiredu, and Head of Entertainment and Programmes Ken Addo.
The Regional Commander’s entourage included Chief. Supt. Kwesi Ofori, in Charge of Operations; ASP William Asare, Staff Officer; ASP Afia Tenge, Head of Public Affairs and Constable Dede-Tay.
Story by Isaac Essel | 3news.com | Ghana