Ketu South Youth Activist Petitions IGP Over Alleged Police Extortion Of Market Women.  

Aflao – Aug. 28 – 24HourNews – Youth activist in Ketu South, Dan K. Jerry Sorokpo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Volta Regional Police Commander and the Volta Regional Minister, Hon. James Gunu, over alleged harassment and extortion of local traders by police officers along the Aflao to Accra highway.

In an open letter, Mr. Sorokpo expressed concern about the conduct of police officers stationed at barriers including the Tokor barrier, Ativuta Toll Booth, Weta-Afiadenyigba Junction Barrier and Sogakope.

According to him, officers at these barriers have been demanding receipts from market women transporting goods such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, beans and clothes to local markets including Weta-Anlo Afiadenyigba Junction Market, Akatsi, Agbozume and Denu.

He questioned when Ghana Police Service officers became customs officers, stressing that the practice amounts to harassment of traders who depend on daily market sales to survive.

“There are some policemen dispatched from Ho to join their colleagues at the barriers who are also involved in such bad attitudes towards local traders, which is not helpful at all,” he stated.

Mr. Sorokpo, who said he witnessed the incident on Thursday morning at the Anlo-Afiadenyigba Junction on Weta market day, alleged that traders without receipts are forced to pay money to officers before being allowed to proceed.

He called on the IGP and the Volta Regional authorities to take immediate steps to stop the practice, arguing that it contradicts government’s promise to support local businesses and market women under its resetting agenda.

He further attached photos of goods belonging to traders that were held at the Weta-Anlo Afiadenyigba Junction police barrier as evidence of the incident.