Introduction

Data from the District Police Headquarters reveals that there has been an increase in the incidence of crime over the past years. The most prominent among crimes reported to the police station include assault, stealing, highway robbery, acts tending or causing unlawful harm. The increase in crime rates especially armed robbery on the highways is partly due to the inadequate staff of the district police force. The absence of a police check points, inadequate vehicles and the lack of mobile communication equipment make the mobilization of men for operational duties very difficult.

There is therefore the need to strengthen the District police force through increased staff strength, the construction of police barracks and the provision of adequate logistical support to arrest the emerging crime situation in the district. Also, adequate streetlight must be provided in public places in the district.

The Police Service

Internal security and enforcement of law and order in the District is the sole responsibility of the Ghana Police service. However, in the discharge of their duty they collaborate with District Security Committee headed by the DCE, Traditional Authorities and other security agencies, Bureau of National Investigations.

The District has three police stations with total staff strength of 59. With a population of 71,367 (2017 estimate), the police citizen ratio is 1: 2,190 compared to the national figures of 1:761. This is a clear indication of police concentration in the urban areas within the district. The Police Administration of Ghana should therefore make efforts for proper decentralization of the Police to close the gap at the District level. This analysis is base on the existence of one police command in the district.

Key Development Issues

1. Inadequate personnel

2. Lack of vehicle for patrols

3. Inadequate telecommunication network

4. Poor road network in parts of the district