‘Police will deal with troublemakers during polls’
The Ghana Police Service has said it will deal ruthlessly with persons who indulge in violence during election campaigns.
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It has, therefore, cautioned the general public to avoid violence during the period.
The caution was given by the Dansoman Divisional Commander of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Antwi Tabi, at a community durbar in Accra last Tuesday.
“The law will deal with people, irrespective of the party they belong to, if they take advantage of the electioneering period and perpetrate crimes.”
“If you commit an offence while you are on a campaign trail, you will be prosecuted irrespective of the party you belong to,” he said.
The community durbar was put together by the Ablekuma South-West Sub Metro of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) as part of measures to educate the public on the need to observe a peaceful election this year.
Political parties
Mr Tabi indicated that the police had put in place necessary measures to deal with electoral violence.
He urged political parties to explain to their party followers the need to stay out of trouble in order for Ghana to have a free, fair and transparent election.
He further cautioned members of the public not to display party paraphernalia or wear party colours on election day, since that was against the laws of the land.
Mr Tabi also called on other security agencies to do their best to sustain the peace the nation was enjoying before, during and after the election.
Maintain peace
The Coordinating Director of the Ablekuma South-West Sub Metro of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr Ernest Myles, also urged the general public not to cause trouble when results of the election do not go in their favour.
“Whether winners or losers in election, the nation is going to be ruled by one president, so let’s think about the peace of the nation,” he said.
He indicated that peaceful elections did not depend on one person, but rather a group of individuals who worked together towards it.
He said the forthcoming election should be about credibility, integrity and trust in the candidate to ensure success.
Tolerance
The officer in charge of the Ablekuma South-West Sub Metro of the NCCE, Mr Stephen Yao Haymann, advised that the public should be educated on peace, tolerance and unity towards the coming election.
“We want the public to know that election is not a fight. It should be something that brings unity among Ghanaians,” he said.
He also advised people who have the idea of hijacking ballot boxes to refrain from the act.