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The Paramount Chief of the Edina Traditional Area, Nana Kojo Conduah VI in the early hours of Tuesday led a task force to demolish illegal structures and gaming centers in some suburbs of Elmina. The task force made up of the Elmina Police, the various �Mbrantsehen� and other members of the traditional council demolished and set ablaze several structures particularly near the Elmina Castle and Edina-Bantuma, and other suburbs. Television sets, gaming devices and other equipment at the gaming centers were confiscated and sent to the Elmina Police station as bait for their owners who escaped during the exercise. Nana Conduah in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the exercise said the move was to clamp down criminal activities especially the snatching of phones, bags and other personal effects in the town by some recalcitrant individuals believed to be living in the structures. He said it was also to reduce truancy and school dropout among school children who have taken to the habit of spending several hours and money meant for school on gambling at the gaming centres instead of joining their colleagues at school. He indicated that he would not relent on ensuring that criminal activities and truancy were reduced for discipline to be restored in the town and has therefore tasked the mbrantsehen and other members to be on the watch out. He said the exercise had already received several commendations especially from parents whose children were actively involved in gambling, despite all efforts to keep them in school and make them focus on their education Some operators of the gaming centres said they had permit from the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly to operate. But when contacted, the Chief Executive of KEEA Mr. Isaac Kweku Sam denied having knowledge of such permits and also declined to comment on the exercise.