Accra, Sept. 9, Some members of Parliament today commended the current exercise launched by the police to decongest Accra as well as promote law and order within the metropolis. Mr Joseph Darko-Mensah, (NPP Okaikoi North), Ms Theresa Ameley Tagoe (NPP-Ablekuma South) and Mr Sylvester Mensah (NDC-Dade Kotopon)) made the commendation in their contribution to a statement on the performance of the police service. The members called for more logistics to encourage the officers in their efforts. Citing the Abeka Lapaz intersection and Achimota-Nsawam Road, Mr Darko-Mensah appealed to the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to ensure that policemen are always positioned at such areas to improve traffic flow. While acknowledging the exercise, Ms Tagoe lashed out at the police administration for not improving the welfare of policemen. “Charity begins at home.. the IGP should look at the welfare of his men. they should be well clothed”, she said adding that this would enable them to work with the expected satisfaction. She alleged for example that a police officer who has served for more than 20 years, takes home about 250,000 cedis as salary at the end of the month and asked, “what is the police administration doing?” She said there is only one night patrolling vehicle for the police in her constituency. Ms Tagoe re-echoed the numerous problems facing the personnel especially, non-commissioned officers, and called for prompt action to raise their status and morale. “Let’s look after them well, she said .” Mr Darko-Mensah also commended the inspector-general for launching the exercise to “give the city of Accra a new look.” In an apparent reaction to earlier suggestions that road barriers should be reduced, Mr Darko-Mensah said policemen at these checkpoints help in checking car thefts as well as defective vehicles, hence the idea to reduce such barriers should be reconsidered.
