IGP expresses concern about the increasing tensions among parties

Kumasi, Oct. 12, GNA - Nana Owusu Nsiah, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), on Tuesday expressed concern about tension and petty squabbles among the various political parties in the country. The IGP, who was addressing representatives of political parties, Electoral Commission (EC) and Parliamentary Candidates in Kumasi, suggested closed-door meetings of the parties to iron out their differences.

The IGP said the Police were aware of the complaints of the parties and urged them to protect Ghana's democracy to ensure peace, transparent, free and fair elections this year.

He reminded the parties that destruction of party posters was a criminal offence and warned that anybody caught would be prosecuted at the law courts.

Nana Owusu Nsiah said it was the duty of the Police to maintain peace and order and, therefore, appealed to political parties to have confidence in the Police in the discharge of their duties. He said he was not happy about the way some phone-in programmes were conducted and appealed to the people to make positive contributions to the programmes and avoid attacking their opponents. Nana Owusu Nsiah reiterated the neutrality of the Police

administration in the performance of its duties. "The Police will not do anything that will mar the elections". He commended the role of the media in the fight against crime and urged Journalists to continue highlighting issues that would help educate the people to sustain the country's democracy. The IGP told the Electoral Commission to put in place adequate measures to avoid rigging and ensure transparent, free and fair elections.

Mr Samuel Yorke-Aidoo, Ashanti Regional Director of the EC, said the EC was making efforts to update the skills of the polling agents to enable them to be familiar with the electoral process.