IGP commends EC for dymystifying operations

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr David Asante-Appeatu, has commended the Electoral Commission (EC), particularly the Chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa, for her commitment and bold step to demystify the operations at the commission.

“We will join you in this demystification agenda because people need to understand what is entailed in the electoral processes and their role towards making it successful and peaceful,” he added.

“It is important these steps are taken because there is also the need to defuse the notion that the police can win elections for a political party. In the course of time the Administration works together with the EC on public education”.

Mr Asante-Appeatu gave the assurance when the leadership of the EC paid a courtesy call on him.

The EC team was led by Mrs Mensa, and her two deputies — Mr Samuel Tettey, in-charge of Operations, and Dr Eric Bossman Asare, in-charge of Corporate Services.

The essence of the visit was to build a fruitful and lasting relationship with the police administartion.

So far, the commission has visited a number of institutions, including faith-based and religious bodies, the media and the judiciary.

Police assurance

Mr Asante-Appeatu told the EC that the police administration recognised its work and the effort being put in place and applauded the leadership for its commitment to further enhance the country's electoral process.

The IGP commended the EC for its efficiency and good work since her appointment as well as taking a novel approach to build consensus among stakeholders towards ensuring peaceful elections.

He said studies had shown that elections do not cause violence but the process involved and urged the Commission to educate its stakeholders on their respective roles and points of convergence to ensure peaceful process in 2020.

He stressed the service’s commitment to partner the commission as far as its mandate was concerned for successful elections.

On the need to adhere to the laws, he said the administration was hoping that the country's electoral process would reach a stage where it would not need the presence of the police for people to do the right thing.

EC readiness

In her remarks, Mrs Mensa said the commission recognised the police administration as one of its key stakeholders, adding that its role in the electoral process could not be underestimated.
She said since the new administration took over in August last year, efforts had been put in place to strengthen the commission by rolling out a number of internal reforms.

On the ongoing limited voter’s registration exercise, Mrs Mensa said it was the first time the commission was partnering the police administration to provide security at the various centres.

She said the EC was grateful for the support from the police administration for deploying its personnel to ensure peace and order at the various registration centres.

Ghana card

Mrs Mensa when asked if the new Ghana Identity Card would be used to vote in the 2020 elections, said there was no such plan and that before it could be used the National Identification Authority and the EC would need to discuss modalities.

She said the Commission was poised to run an open door policy and would give a level playing field to all political parties to ensure credible, transparent, free and fair elections.

Mrs Mensa said the electoral system over the years had been built and well-tightened and carried along with all political actors from the registration processes through to the declaration of the results.

She briefed them about the commencement of processes to build a strong administrative governance structure to correct lapses at the EC.

Mrs Mensa presented a copy of the electoral laws to the Police Administration.