The Asutifi District Police Command has arrested 22 persons for non- compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocol, at Kenyasi in the Ahafo region.
The move, it said, would help to protect residents from contracting the disease, which is on the increase in the country.
The Asutifi District Police Commander Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Paul Ankan, said the offenders were made up of 19 males and three females.
He said the police carried out the exercise at markets, lorry parks, streets, and other places of public gathering.
According to DSP Ankan, the 22 offenders were taken to the Kenyasi Magistrate court for failure to comply with the COVID-19 protocol and engaging in offensive conduct.
The court, presided over by Mr Christian Havi, pardoned the culprits for being first time offenders, and were bonded to be of good behaviour and to be ambassadors of the nose mask wearing.
DSP Ankan noted that though the offenders were allowed to go unpunished, defaulters of their subsequent operations would not go scot free, saying, “they would be charged, taken to court and fined or get four years imprisonment in default”.
He encouraged residents to always wear the nose masks, saying that “it is better to wear the mask to protect yourself than to pay a fine of GH¢12,000 or get four years jail term in default.”
DSP Ankan urged parents, teachers and non – teaching staffs, religious leaders to help ensure the compliance with the waring of nose mask and social distancing.
“We will not relent on our efforts until the virus is defeated. We would be moving to schools, churches, mosques, workplaces and other places of public gathering to inspect the compliance of the mask wearing and other protocol,” he warned.
When the Ghanaian Times visited the communities a day after the exercise, it observed the the protocol, especially the wearing of nose masks among school children, drivers and passengers, shop attendants, food vendors, workers, traders, was being respected.
DSP Ankan said the police would extend the exercise Gambia, Acherensua, Hwediem, Dadiesoaba,Mehame, Ntotroso and Atwedie areas.
Photo: Traders and buyers at Kenyasi market wearing nose mask after police exercise.
FROM EMMANUEL ADU GYAMFI, KENYASI
