Don’t deploy machomen to polling centres – C/R Police Commander urges politicians
The Central Regional Police Command has appealed to politicians not to deploy private security men (machomen) to polling stations on election day.
It reminded political parties that all security concerns on elections remained the responsibility of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and that it would ensure adequate security for all.
The Central Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Kofi Adu, gave the advice at a press briefing in Cape Coast last Wednesday on media and police cooperation for a peaceful election.
He said the police would deal with machomen deployed to cause mayhem at the polling stations on election day.
Togetherness
He said the police were ready to work with all stakeholders, including media personnel, for smooth and peaceful elections this year.
Mr Adu stated that the leadership of the police had put in place liaison officers to liaise with the media to help address all security concerns to help avoid misinformation and disinformation during the election.
He, therefore, advised media personnel in the region to desist from reportage that could incite the public into violence, saying it was essential that they adopted utmost professionalism in the interest of peace.
Hotspots
On dealing with hotspots in the region, Mr Adu stated that the police command would treat every polling station as a hotspot and ensure adequate security personnel were deployed to the polling stations.
“All we are saying is that so far as this election is concerned we want it to be peaceful,” he stated, adding that the police command was committed to a peaceful election in the region.
He urged the media to acquire the needed accreditation and to cooperate with the security personnel.
Mr Adu noted that the command recognised the media’s critical role in strengthening the nation’s democracy, stressing that the police would work with them to ensure a peaceful election.
Ballot papers
He stated that ballot papers for the elections had been received and would be kept under security watch for the elections.
The second in command at the Central Regional Police Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Francis Nchor, also advised the media personnel to avoid disrupting the smooth running of elections at the polling centres and to abide by the security structures put in place.
The Central Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association, David Yarboi-Tetteh, stated that while the association would work to educate the media to be professional, the security personnel must endeavour to treat media personnel covering the elections with respect.
He urged the command to ensure that security personnel at the polling stations did not manhandle media men rightfully undertaking their responsibilities, particularly on election day.