Obuasi Football Fans Warned Against Hooliganism

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Patrick E. Timbillah, has warned against the increasing hooliganism of football fans in Obuasi and said this must end.

"We do not want to see and would not allow violent clashes during football matches", he said, when he addressed a routine monthly parade of the command at Obuasi on Wednesday.

The parade, a feature of the service, is meant to promote physical fitness and mental awareness of the security personnel. Mr Timbillah told the officers and men to adopt humane approach in the performance of their duties. "You must respect the fundamental rights of suspects and avoid torture, violence and ill treatment but you should nonetheless be firm and maintain the highest level of professionalism."

Mr Timbillah said indiscipline would not be countenanced and that the Police Administration was determined to ensure high standards to win the trust and confidence of the public and raise the image of the service. Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Amissah, the Obuasi Divisional Commander, said crime was declining in the area and gave statistics to prove it.

Between January and November a total of 2,838 crimes were recorded as against 3,078 in 2008, a 7.4 percentage reduction. Illegal gold mining, which threatened the operations of AngloGold Ashanti, had also gone down as a result of education and dialogue.

Mr Amissah praised the Obuasi Municipal and the Adansi South District assemblies for building offices for the police but expressed worry about the inadequate accommodation for the police and appealed for support to improve the situation. Mr John Alexander Ackon, the Municipal Chief Executive, said efforts were being made to allocate some SSNIT flats to the police.

Source: GNA