Police grateful to electorate for collaboration towards peaceful polls
The Ghana Police Service has expressed appreciation to the electorate for collaborating with them to ensure peace during the conduct of the 2016 Election.
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Briefing journalists in Accra yesterday on the emerging security concerns after the December 7 general election, the Director General of Operations, Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said: “I wish to commend the good people of Ghana for their comportment during the polls. We appreciate the peaceful manner in which the process was conducted.”
Security concerns
He admitted that there were a few cases of misunderstanding and violence during the election but noted with satisfaction that those issues were resolved amicably.
Mr Yohuno observed that there seemed to be some rising tension, particularly associated with the counting of the ballots, but gave the assurance that all the security issues would be resolved amicably.
The misunderstanding arising from the counting of the ballots had precipitated a situation where the two political parties and other stakeholders had been holding press conferences to state their respective positions on the likely outcomes of the polls.
“This situation seems to be creating an unfortunate anticlimax to the otherwise near-perfect electoral process,” he stated.
The police, he said, were monitoring developments closely to ensure that the situation did not get out of hand.
The police administration, in collaboration with other security agencies, Mr Yohuno said, were prepared to protect lives and property at all times.
He called on the public, political parties and their sympathisers to exercise maximum restraint as the Electoral Commission (EC) went through the procedures before announcing the final results.
Assurance
He assured the political parties and other stakeholders in the election that the police were committed to providing protection and security for all Ghanaians.
“The police will do everything within its power to discharge its mandate to the public,” he said while assuring the public of the continuous fairness and impartiality of the police in enforcing the law.
He entreated the public to desist from any action that had the potential of jeopardising the peace the country was currently enjoying.
“Let us put our country first and resort to due process and non-violent means in addressing concerns and grievances.”
The police administration has, therefore, assured the public that it would continue to maintain peace and order.