Accra, Sept 30, GNA-The minister of Interior Hon. Mark Wayongo has entreated everyone not to draw conclusion over the clashes between Let my Vote Count Alliance (LMVCA) protesters and the Ghana Police Service because investigations are ongoing

       Speaking at Press Conference in Accra yesterday, he advised Ghanaians to stay calm and let the agencies take it course.

        Elaborating on the achievements of the Ministry, he said, the Ministry has launched its Service Charter where processes, fees and timelines are given for all major services it provides. The Ministry has also signed a contract with M/S M-Communications to introduce telephone services in some selected prisons to facilitate easy communications between the inmates and their families, friends and lawyers in a controlled manner on pilot basis at no cost to government and also the Ministry has signed a contract with Ahui Communications Service Ltd, a subsidiary of China Communications Services International, to carry out feasibility studies on the introduction of CCTV cameras on roads in Ghana to help the police maintain discipline on our roads and reduce crime which is also at not cot to government.

        The Interior Minister gave an over view about work being done within the 10 agencies of the Sector Ministry, made up of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

        The rest are the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Ghana Refugee Board, Gaming Commission, National Commission on Small Arms and the National Peace Council.

          He said, as at 2010, the Police Population ratio was 1:1200 and currently is 1:787 but ideally it should be 1:500 by UN standards. He further explained that efforts are being made to recruit new officers into the system and a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and when the time is due, advertisement would be placed in the media. He advised Ghanaians to stay away from fake recruitment persons.

        He announced that 18 inmates presented for the 2014 BECE recorded 100% pass, adding that many inmates received training, self-employable and rehabilitation skills in carpentry and furniture manufacturing, Soap production, Tailoring, Block moulding, Basketry, Baking, Smock and Kente weaving. He was happy to announced that the Prison Service will soon introduce the Parole system,  this will enable prisoners with good to be released earlier than his/her time.

        The Minister said, it is gratifying to note that Ghana is the second African country after South Africa to have been recognized as a member of the World Rescue Organisation (WRO).

        He said, the Immigration Service Bill (2015) is in Parliament and hopefully will be passed by the end of the year, adding that a significant provision in the new bill, from the Immigration Service Act, 1989 (PNDCL 226) is under the introduction of the provision for the Border Patrol Unit  (BPU) of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to bear arms.

      He said by mid-year 2015 alone, a total of 760.64 kg of illicit drugs have been seized and persons arrested are being prosecuted. He added that another worrying situation is the incidents of drug smugglers swallowing pellets at the peril of their lives.  He stated, in recent times, a 45 year oldman from a neighbouring country who was apprehended and suspected to have swallowed a quantity of pellets, subsequently died in the hospital.

     He touched on the National Peace Council (NPC) saying, the NPC has launched a National Electronic Conflict Map (NECM) on the internet which outlines all the flash points in Ghana. The NECM also shows antecedents of the conflicts, hot spots or flash points as well as efforts that have been made and continue to be made to resolve them.

     Moving on further to the Ghana Refugees board, he said, Ghana is currently hosting 21,088 refugees and gave a breakdown of the total number of refugees in the country.  Liberians in Ghana are 5,262, La Cote d’Ivoire representing 11,262, Togo having 3, 212 and other refugees from neighbouring countries are 1,352 adding up to a total of 21, 088.

       The Minister said, the ministry and all its agencies exist to ensure that Ghana is peaceful and secure to allow all law abiding persons go about their legitimate social and economic activities without any fear or hindrance. 

       GNA