In spite of violations of Covid-19 protocols my members of the public in the Upper East Region, the police in the region are yet to make any arrests; the regional Police Public Relations Officer has said.
The Imposition of Restrictions Act was enacted based on a directive issued by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on March 15, 2020 to introduce emergency measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The act gives the police the power to arrest and prosecute offenders.
But speaking to the media on Thursday February 11, 2021 during a disinfection exercise of police installations in Bolgatanga by Zoomlion Ghana, ASP David Fianko-Okyere, PRO of the regional police command said, “We are yet to make formal arrest. In fact, the directive for us was to enforce laws on the protocols and enforcement does not necessary mean an arrest. Whichever way that we will ensure that people go through the protocols is what is what we are doing and so we have some strategies in place.”
Meanwhile, the PRO has explained that persons who are arrested for committing crimes and are taken through dues process of the law and to be sent to prisons under go Covid-18 mandatory testing before the prisons authorities will receive them. Also, periodic testing is being conducted for inmates.
Speaking on penalties, ASP Fianko-Okyere, said the act has a minimum of 1,000 penalty unit and maximum of 5,000 which if translated into cash, will be between Ghc 12.000 and 60,000. In default, the culprit will serve a prison term of not less than 4 years and not more than 10 years.
Source:A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Ghana
