Police personnel have been recalled from various checkpoints and roadblocks along the Aflao-Akatsi highway, days after the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Akorli, engaged market women and drivers over allegations of harassment and extortion.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed that there were no police personnel at some of the checkpoints and roadblocks along the highway during a visit to the area.
The development follows a meeting between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and DCOP Akorli over allegations of harassment, intimidation and extortion involving police personnel stationed along the Aflao-Accra route.
Police personnel at checkpoints, including the Tokor Barrier, Ativuta Toll Booth and Weta-Afiadenyigba Junction Barrier, had been accused of causing unnecessary delays and allegedly demanding money from traders who could not produce receipts for their goods.
Although there has been no official communication from the Ketu Divisional Police Command on the reported recall, sources told the GNA that the development followed a petition by a citizen to the IGP over alleged extortion and harassment at some of the checkpoints and roadblocks.
Following his engagement with the IGP, DCOP Akorli visited some of the affected areas to interact with market women and drivers and obtain first-hand information on their experiences.
However, days after the Regional Police Commander’s engagements, the GNA observed the absence of police personnel from the checkpoints.
Some market women and drivers who spoke to the GNA said their concerns were not for the complete withdrawal of police personnel from the highways, but for an end to alleged extortion, harassment and other unprofessional conduct.
They said police presence along the highway played an important role in deterring criminals and protecting drivers and traders who travelled with goods and money.
According to them, a complete withdrawal of police personnel from the checkpoints could expose road users to criminal activities and create security concerns along the busy highway.
They therefore appealed to the Police Command to reconsider what they described as a total withdrawal and instead take measures to address the alleged misconduct by personnel at the checkpoints.
The drivers and market women said officers found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct should be dealt with appropriately, while legitimate police checks should continue to ensure the safety and security of road users.
GNA
