Security Of My People In Akuapem North Is My Topmost Priority–MCE, Berima Asiedu Larbi

Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Akuapem North Municipality in the Eastern Region, Mr. Mr Berima Asiedu Larbi, has refuted wide spread media reports to the effect that his outfit has refused to respond to security emergency needs of the residents in Mamfe and Saforo, following the constant attacks on the commercial motor riders, popularly known as okada operators by some unknown criminals.

Mr Larbi who visited the Mamfe and Saforo on Thursday July 6, 2023, to ascertain the current security situation of the people admitted the attacks meted out to the commercial motor riders by the thugs.

But, the MCE was quick to state that the attacks on the people were not perpetrated by the armed robbers as being claimed by the residents of the Mamfe and Saforo areas.

"Although it was criminals who attacked the residents, l can state on the authority that this is not the pure armed robbery attacks but the attacks were perpetrated by some miscreants. These miscreants turned like pessengers who used unknown numbers to call commercial motor riders in the nights to carry them to places. 

"...and that when the riders went to pick them and suddenly on their way to the place, these miscreants will used abrute force to collect the motor bikes from the riders in the nights," the MCE disclosed.

"So since we have suspected these Modus operandi of these unknown thugs, we have intensified security education in these areas and alerted all the motors not to pick unknown persons in the nights from the Mamfe to Saforo," the MCE explained.

"I want to advise all the commercial motor riders in Akuapem North, particularly those in Mamfe and Saforo that if someone reach you via telephone calls after 6 pm or 8 pm to pick him/her to a place, please don't go. Don't follow this small charge of GH¢15.00 from Mamfe to Saforo and you would go for someone to kill you," the MCE warned.

According to the hard working MCE, when the current attacked incident occupied which resulted to the death of a motor rider at Mamfe by unknown assassins, he and the Akropong District Police Commander have visited the area and consoled with the deceased family.

The Akuapem North MCE maintained that the two have also participated actively in the final rites of the late motor rider.

He pointed out that after the occurance of the current incident having being the chairman of the Akuapem North Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC), he devised emergency security measures to ensure the regular police patrol in the area to safeguard the security of the residents.

"I cannot leave my people in their fates so l have designed an emergency measures by way of putting in place police patrol strategies with the aim to create a sense of security, preventing crime, and identifying and solving community problems that go unnoticed.

"I have also fixed the streetlights and lighting the two communities to ensure the security protection of my people.So the residents were not being faired to us by way of accusing us that we didn't care for their lives since they were attacked by what they described as the armed robbers," the MCE stressed.

Mr Larbi was responding to the allegations in the publication by the Soireenews.com with the Screaming headline which reads; "Armed  Robbers Are Killing Us In Akuapem North But MCE, MP Left Us In Our Fates--Residents Cry As They Hit Of Never Again Demo."

In that report which was published by Soireenews.com in its Thursday July 6,2023 edition, the news portal reported that the residents of Mamfe and Saforo are living in constant fear following incessant armed robbery attacks in their areas.

The report pointed out that the residents of the two communities were left in their fates by the the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem North Constituency, Nana Ama Dokua Asiama Adjei, Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Berima Asiedu Larbi and Akropong District Police Commander of Ghana Police Service.

The residents told the Soireenews.com that Mamfe and Saforo become the ghost towns as scores of people were contemplating leaving the two town if the robbery attacks persisted.

Due to these they are calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and National Security Minister to come and help them otherwise they life is at risk.

"We have made several appeals to the MCE, MP and Police officers of Akropong District Police Command, but they are not responding to us,” the residents stated

The residents of Mamfe and Saforo told the Soireenews.com that they were blaming these state officials because it seems that they were helpless in dealing with these situations because they do not care for the lost of human lives from the severe and bloody attacks meted out to some of their colleagues by these armed robbers.

But in a quick response, the MCE flatly denied the allegations and stated that the security of the people in the Municipality is his topmost priority since he starts work officially.

Mr Larbi explained that he always ensured that there is a high level of security in the Municipality for the safety and protection of his people. 

According to the MCE, his vision is to make sure that Akuapem North is well positioned as a major traveller’s hub.

"I have the interest of the people of Akuapem North at heart and so wouldn’t want any harm to come to them," Mr Larbi stressed.

The MCE used the opportunity to call on the youths in the municipality to rescind on their decision to demonstrate and hopes to have taken security measures the deal with their situation for the betterment of the area.

He, therefore cautioned the parents in the areas within the municipality to be mindful of the daily movements of their children.

He stressed the need for them to be mindful that the child kidnappers are going rounds in the areas,and cited their security measures taken to rescue three children who were kidnapped into the commercial vehicle in three weeks ago.