Election 2016: Flagbearers to get 4 police guards each

The Ghana Police Service has said it will provide four police personnel for each presidential candidate and two for their running mates for the November polls.

In a statement signed by Director of Public Affairs Supt. Cephas Arthur, the Police Service said it will provide protection for “Presidential Candidates and their running mates before, during and after the November 7 general election. This package forms part of security arrangement being put in place to ensure a peaceful process.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. John Kudalor revealed this at a meeting held with the chair persons and general secretaries of the various political parties at the National Police Headquarters, Accra on Friday April 1, 2016.

The Police said party executives were called upon to make input by way of indicating their preferences for their own security details to be assigned by the Police. The Police Administration said that it was ready to detail the personnel as soon as the inputs were made.

Some of the party representatives entreated the Police to expand the facility to cover party chairpersons and general secretaries, as their activities also put them at risk.

Mr. John Kudalor emphasised that security of flagbearers and their running mates was high on the agenda for the Police, hence the need to hold the dialogue earlier than scheduled.

He re-iterated that a similar arrangement was made in 2012 to protect the same personalities. “We are prepared to provide four and two personnel each for the flagbearers and their running mates, respectively”.

This arrangement is different from general security that will be provided by the Police for political rallies and activities during the electioneering period, the statement added.

Participating at the meeting were the General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia; the acting chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Freddie Blay together with the party’s acting General Secretary, Mr. John Boadu and one Dr. Charles Dwamena. Representing the Convention People’s Party was Chairman Prof. Edmund Delle and General Secretary Nii Armah Akomfrah, while Nii Allotey Brew Hammond and Mr. Mutala Mohammed Ahmed represented the PPP.

The rest were Dr. Henry Lartey and Mr. Frederick Ato Dadzie for the GCPP, Mr. Atik Mohammed for PNC, and Mr. Mohammed Frimpong and Madam Mercy B. Aidoo for NDP. The Police Management Board (POMAB) was also present at the meeting.