Unused Asempanaye Police Station Rots Away in Offinso North as Residents Demand Action

Offinso North, Ashanti Region– A police station built to serve the Asempanaye community in Offinso North is sitting idle and deteriorating over four years after it was commissioned, prompting residents to appeal to national and traditional leaders to repurpose the facility before it goes to waste.

The station was constructed during the administration of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, under the tenure of Hon. Augustine Collins Ntim, then Member of Parliament for Offinso North and Deputy Minister for Local Government.

It was allegedly commissioned on 6th November 2020 but has never been operationalized.

Barrier Placement Sparks Safety Concerns

The project’s intended location was deemed appropriate for policing the area. However, the road barrier installed alongside it was positioned in a way residents and journalists say created immediate danger.

After the commissioning day, Oyerepa TV and radio journalist Dominic Duut reported from the scene. The report ended in a heated exchange between Dominic Duut  and the then police commander over the placement of the barrier when Dominic Duut approached the police for their safety.

On that same day, a Burkina Faso-registered long truck was involved in an accident at the spot, nearly resulting in fatalities.

Residents say the barrier at then time  forces vehicles to stop on a steep hill from Nkwaankwaa to Asempanaye, a stretch already prone to accidents. “This is a high hill.

When heavy trucks fail to brake, they lose control right at that point. The barrier makes it worse,”

with the help of Dominic Duut reports and  some  Authorities the barrier was forced to move back to Nkwaankwaa community member explained.

The area has recorded multiple accidents and loss of lives over the past years, they add.

“Don’t Let It Go to Waste”

With the station still locked and no police personnel deployed, the building is now unused while Asempanaye continues to lack basic security presence.

Community members are now appealing directly to:

-H.E John Dramani Mahama

– The Inspector General of Police [IGP]
– The Ashanti Regional Minister
– The Minister for the Interior
– The Akumadan Police Commander
– Offinsomanhene and the Offinsoman Traditional Council
– The District Chief Executive for Offinso North
– The Member of Parliament for Offinso North

My plea: either operationalize the station immediately or convert it for other pressing community needs.

“If they cannot operationalize the police station, they should turn it into a health center. Asempanaye doesn’t even have a CHPS compound. Or because it’s close to the school, it can serve as teachers’ quarters,” one resident said.

“Our properties shouldn’t just go to waste like that.”

Calls for Repurposing

This situation reflects a wider concern in parts of rural Ghana where public infrastructure is built but left unutilized due to staffing, logistics, or operational challenges.

We argue that repurposing the building would at least ensure public funds are not wasted and that the community benefits from the investment.

Asempanaye currently has no CHPS compound, and health access remains a challenge for residents who must travel to neighboring towns for basic care.

The school also lacks adequate accommodation for teachers, contributing to staff retention issues.

 I appeal with the Community leaders  to engage authorities to find a practical solution and we are  urging swift intervention before the building deteriorates beyond use.

story by Dominic Duut