UNHCR constructs residential facility for Police at Egyei-Krom Refugee Camp

The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) has handed over a four-unit residential police quarters to the police administration at Egyei-krom Refugee Camp in the Central Region.

The construction of the facility is in line with moves to enhance security for the refugees at the camp and the entire community.

The UNHCR representative, Ms Loli Kimyaci, handed over the keys to the building to the Programmes Coordinator of the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB), Mr Tetteh Padi, who in turn presented it to the Central Regional Police Commander, Commissioner of Police (COP) Rev. David Ampah Bennin.

Present at the ceremony were officials of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) Municipal Assembly and the Coordinator for the Central/Western Regional directorates of GRB, Mr Charles Yorke.

The construction of the facility would give relief to police officers in charge of the police post at the refugee camp who have had to do their patrols and monitoring at the mercy of the weather due to the lack of accommodation.

Attacks

COP Rev. Ampah Bennin warned the public against unwarranted attacks on police installations in the country.

He described such attacks as an afront to the peace and security of the country.

"The police have the mandate to protect lives and properties and to ensure that peace prevails in our communities. However, it is unfortunate that some people sometimes attack police installations and police officers carrying out their legitimate duties.

"If for any reason any member of the public feels aggrieved over an issue, the best thing to do is to use dialogue follow due processes of the law, instead of attacking the police," he stressed.

There has been a number of attacks on police personnel and establishments this year.

Recently, residents of the Ekpu community in the Half Assini District in the Western Region, attacked a police station following the death of a suspect in police cells. There were similar attacks and destruction of property at Somanya in the Eastern Region as well as Tema New Town in the Greater Accra Region.

Significance

COP Rev. Ampah Bennin described the construction of the facility as timely.

"The handing over of this facility comes at a time the police in this area needs some bit of comfort to be able to discharge their roles properly to safeguard the peace in this community,” he stated.

Assurance

For her part, Ms Kimyaci gave an assurance that the UNHCR would continue to offer the required logistical and technical support to the government in its move to mainstream security at refugee camps in the country into the national security system.

She said the UNCHR had made funds available for the upgrading of police posts at refugee camps in the country to meet required standards.