Forces ready for miscreants – Security Capos

The immediate perimeter of the Supreme Court building in Accra is awash with a glitzy security arrangement Wednesday evening as the nation readies for a verdict Thursday on a historic challenge to President John Mahama’s 2012 election victory.

Armed to the teeth policemen have taken positions in secured locations and are keeping the watch till the Court’s work is done Thursday, as the whole zone is declared a no-go-area for anyone not accredited.

Roads in the immediate vicinity are also to be closed for as long as the last day of the about six-month long trial lasts.

Beyond these obvious aberrations to the normal, carefree Accra life and the further primed deployment of security personnel nationwide to help manage any wantonness that may result from the court verdict, security officials are urging all to go about their lawful duties as they have always done – and not to fear any harm.

President Mahama himself headed a meeting of security chiefs on Wednesday for a last minute appraisal of the nation’s security readiness as the date with destiny draws nigh.

The meeting was also attended by Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, Interior Minister Kwesi Ahwoi, National Security Coordinator Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Chief of Defence Staff Vice Admiral Mathew Quarshie, Inspector General of Police Mohammed Alhassan and other security chiefs.

National Security Co-ordinator, Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey on Joy FM Wednesday night assured the public that nothing should prevent anyone from living their normal lives on Thursday. “No problem at all. No problem at all. Everybody should go to work, life goes on as normal, and just leave the bad guys to us, we will handle them.”

“One call I want to make is that if the petitioners succeed in their petition, or the respondents succeed in their case, whatever it is, whichever way it goes, jubilation should be done in moderation. Whichever side comes out victorious in this matter, jubilation should be done in moderation such that it is not like one group is teasing the other and create any provocation because that will be something that we will not want to live with, it will be a driver of insecurity,” he pleaded.

Police Public Affairs Director, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Freeman Tettey said the police were not out to brutalise anybody but expect all to be law abiding. It is only the law breakers who should have something to fear, because even for police officers, their professional competence will be under scrutiny and the wayward would face sanctions in accordance with service regulations and national laws.


Story by Isaac Yeboah/graphic.com.gh/Ghana