Odododiodoo Bye-election, Police presence should not be intimidating

Accra, Aug 29, GNA - The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD) on Monday said it was encouraged by the assurances of the Police Command to put in place adequate measures to prevent violence and ensure security during and after the voting in the Odododiodoo by-election on Tuesday.

"We trust that the Police will carry out its duties with outmost professionalism in order not to intimidate voters in the process," the CDD said in a statement signed by its Head of Programmes Peter Owusu-Donkor.

Mr Patrick Kwateng Acheampong, Inspector General of Police (IGP), at a press conference on Sunday to discuss security concerns and measures being adopted warned that the Police would not tolerate acts of indiscipline or criminality during and after the Odododiodoo parliamentary bye-election, slated for Tuesday August 30 2005.

He said: " The Police are determined to provide adequate security for Tuesday's bye-election and we would be very firm on the ground. We expect everyone, especially party representatives and supporters, to operate within authorised legal and security framework."

The CDD said the atmosphere in the constituency was highly tense and volatile and appealed to all politics parties, their leadership and supporters to exercise circumspection in their utterances and civility in their conduct ahead of and during the polls.

"Finally, the Center would like to call on political parties, their supporters and indeed all people in the Odododiodoo constituency to do their best to ensure that peace prevails during and after the polls," the statement said.