A new police station to serve mainly the Fodzoku, Torgorme and Ogoli communities with an estimated population of about 10,000, has opened at Fodzoku in the North Tongu District, Volta Region.
The occasion was used to call on residents not to be scared of the presence of the station, but instead collaborate with the police personnel to offset crime upsurge in the area.
The eight-room station, including; an armoury, four offices, male and female cells, a charge room, toilets and baths, was financed by the North Tongu District Assembly from its Common Fund.
Mr Richard Collins Arku, District Chief Executive (DCE), commissioning the project, began over a decade ago, said the station was relevant in building investor confidence to attract development to the catchment area.
"This is a national asset, not for crime control here only, but can help nab and detain criminals escaping arrests elsewhere", he said.
Mr Arku noted that the Kpong Leftbank Irrigation project for which the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut sod for in the area last year, will boost economic activities in the area, adding that the inauguration of the new police station is just timely to control criminals that could be attracted there.
According to him, more police stations would be constructed in other towns in the area in particular and the district as a whole.
Mr Peter Kamasah, Superintendent of Police in charge of Crime, Tongu Divisional Police Command, also reiterated the importance of the station to secure the safety of the people to go about their daily activities without any hindrance.
He enumerated on the four core police functions, including; crime prevention aimed among other things at stopping deviants from terrorising residents, detection of crime, apprehension of criminals and their prosecution.
"The total essence of police presence is to seek community welfare and interest of the larger society and so you need to collaborate with us", Mr Kamasah emphasised.
Togbi Afum Asare III, Paramount Chief of Fodzoku Traditional Area, elated, said some members stood against the station when his outfit mooted the idea about 25 years, saying it was not relevant until the Assembly started the project about a decade ago.
He said the absence of police personnel in the area had led to increase in crime involving for example theft of live electric cables, plunging some areas, including precincts of the new police station into darkness.
Togbi Asare advised personnel posted there, to exhibit professionalism to win the confidence of the people for successful policing in the area.
Mr Pitias Klu, Assembly Member of the area, noted that some members of the area have escaped into their farms thereby refusing to witness the commissioning ceremony of the facility, having been scared of the station and the personnel to be deployed there.
He assured the community that the police would not be allowed to impugn on the rights of residents because of their uniform, and the community would not also be allowed to rise up against the police.
"What we must do is to collaborate with the police, because we need them as they also need us for our mutual security", he said.