2016 polls: Security on high alert in Ashanti – Minister

Ashanti Regional Minister, Peter Anarfi-Mensah, has assured residents in the region of maximum protection, as the country prepares for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Police in the region recently impounded a cache of weapons and ammunition at Alabar, a suburb of Kumasi, a situation which heightened fears in Ghana’s most populous region.

The interception of the arms prompted the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi Boakye, to urge residents, who possess firearms to hand over all weapons or face arrest.

The Regional Minister, who spoke in an interview with Luv FM’s David Akuetteh, said security officials are on high alert, adding that activities of politicians, which will compromise the safety and security of residents would not be tolerated.

“The security agencies are up and doing, we need the cooperation of the people in divulging information, but I can assure them that irrespective of whatever political side you belong to, people in the Ashanti region will be fully protected.”

He cautioned politicians not to jeopardise the current peace in the area and avoid activities that will lead to conflict.

“The peace we are enjoying is paramount; Ashanti Region cannot sit and set the pace to be a confusion area. We need help to maintain the peace, we need all politicians to be law-abiding, we will not tolerate incidents. The fact that we are entering into elections does not call for confusion,” he underscored.