The Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan has called for the total disbandment and demolition of the old Budumburam Refugee Camp because of its incessant use as hideout for criminals in the country.
The camp, originally used to accommodate Liberian refugees during the Liberian civil war, has been closed down by the Ghana Refugees Board, but serves as abode of residence for diverse number of people.
He explained that, the call had featured frequently during Regional Security Council meetings, saying, “We think that the call for action on the demolition of the structures is long overdue.”
He argued that, the camp had outlived its usefulness, since it was no longer seen as a refugee camp in the country.
“We cannot, as a region and country, continue to look on when criminals use the area to terrorise people, and also engage in other criminal activities in the area,” he said.
Mr Duncan made the call at a Regional Coordinating Council meeting held at the residency in Cape Coast.
The call by the regional minister follows the murder of two police officers as well as other criminal activities around Kasoa and its environs.
Mr Duncan explained that, the Kasoa enclave continued to be the den of criminals in the country, who use the area as a hideout to operate.
With respect to the killing of two residents of Ayanfuri in the Upper Denkyira West District following a clash with personnel of Operation Vanguard, he expressed the RCC’s condolence to the bereaved families.
Touching on the One-District-One-Factory, Mr Duncan said that, the Ekumfi Fruits and Juice Factory had been completed and the President would be inaugurating it soon.
The factory, he explained, was currently undergoing test run to look at the efficiency of the machines during production.
He commended the Paramount Chief of the Ekumfi traditional area for leading the way in the cultivation of pineapples for the factory as well as instructing other chiefs from the area to engage in pineapple production.
The Central Regional Police Commander, COP Paul Manly Awini, in his presentation, cautioned that, the police in the region would apprehend any individual found to be engaging in criminal activities, while urging the public to support the police with the provision of credible information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of criminals.
He said that, there was a reduction of crime during the year, but was quick to say that, the regional police command would work towards further reduction in criminal activities in the region.
He said the region normally records pockets of civil unrest in areas with dormant chieftaincy disputes during the festival season normally from July to October.
He said the police administration will continue to work with the various stakeholders to ensure that, such unrest were nib in the bud.
FROM DAVID O. YARBOI-TETTEH, CAPE COAST
