Police will ensure security for electorate to vote confidently - IGP
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr John Kudalor, has reaffirmed the readiness of the Ghana Police Service to surmount any security challenges as Ghanaians go to the polls on December 7, 2016.
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Although he admitted that the determination of the political parties to win this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections might pose challenges for the security service, he was quick to add that “the police will surmount these challenges” to the admiration of all observers.
Speaking at the National Police Command Conference in Accra yesterday, Mr Kudalor said the Police Administration was ready to provide the requisite security to create the enabling environment and conducive atmosphere for the electorate to cast their votes in confidence.
“Let me remind all of us that the attention of the international community will be focused on the country during the December 7 elections. Therefore, we have to be resolute in the discharge of our duties to ensure successful elections,” he said.
Conference
The National Police Command Conference, which was attended by the Minister of the Interior, Mr Prosper Bani; executives of the National Election Security Task Force and other stakeholders, reviewed preparations made by the Police Service towards the upcoming elections.
Mr Kudalor told the gathering that security personnel were currently undergoing various training and simulation exercises to build capacity and confidence to deal with all security-related issues that might occur before, during and after the elections.
He said the police would continue to look for the best way to handle and deliver peaceful elections.
Logistics
In his address, Mr Bani said the government was systematically and progressively improving the logistics and equipment base to enhance the effectiveness of the security task force and its readiness towards the elections.
He recalled that the country had successfully held six peaceful elections since 1992, with the support of the police and other stakeholders, stressing that “this year’s elections will also be peaceful”.
To ensure that Ghana maintained its reputation as a peaceful nation, he said, “we owe it to ourselves, our forbears and posterity to deliver another peaceful elections”.
Mr Bani advised security task forces to work as a team and share information, intelligence and even resources for a peaceful polls.
He urged the personnel of the Police Service to be watchful of unregistered motorbikes used in snatching ballot boxes and committing other crimes.
He said the security officers must also be proactive and innovative to ensure incident-free elections.