E/R security organise stimulation exercise ahead of elections

Koforidua, Nov. 16, GNA - The Eastern Regional Election Security Task Force (ERESTF), in collaboration with personnel of the First Infantry Brigade, on Sunday started a 48-hour stimulation exercise to test the security preparedness of the security services towards the December 7, 2008 elections.

Briefing media personnel on the exercise, the Eastern Regional Police Commander, Mr George Anko-Bil, who is also the Regional Chairman of the ERESTF, said the exercise was to test the alertness of the security system, which would be put in place to ensure peaceful elections.

He said all the security services in the region together with personnel from the First Infantry Brigade, Micheal Camp, who had responsibility to the Eastern Region, were involved in the exercise. Mr Anko-Bil said the exercise involved personnel, who would be working at the polling stations, the police and military patrolling teams and the Rapid Deployment Forces (RDF), who would be based at the Regional and District Police headquarters for rapid deployment to trouble spots.

All the chairmen of all the District Election Security Task Forces in the region are taking part in the exercise. The exercise selected three polling stations in Adweso, Koforidua Legion Hall and in the Zongo where mock polling events were organized with riotous scenes including stealing of the ballot boxes. The security personnel demonstrated how they would resolve similar situations should they occurred during the election period.