Police partner parties for peaceful election

Police in Accra are set to partner political parties to deal with politically related violence before, during, and after the November polls.

The regional commander, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare, made the call for partnership after leading a delegation to pay separate visits to offices of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking to journalists, Dr Dampare said: “Barely about two to four weeks ago, we invited all the political parties at the regional level to come for us to have discussions relating to the upcoming elections. And at the end of that meeting, we did agree on a couple of things and the main thing that came out of the meeting is what we at the regional police command have decided to introduce as one of the many innovative initiatives that we want to bring on board for purposes of ensuring that the whole process of the election goes on peacefully for Ghana to be more united even than during the period of having the election. And we said this continuous engagement process or system that we have introduced, we want it to be on real time so that our engagement will be on minute-by-minute basis for all the political parties.”

The regional chairman of the NPP Ishmael Ashitey said the initiative is laudable and will help clear all suspicions about the Ghana Police Service.

He said: “Some of us have been in the system for quite a long time and it is encouraging that the police is trying to work hand in hand with the political parties and all other stakeholders to bring peace and sanity into our elections.

“Anytime a party is in opposition they always suspect the activities of the police but from our last meeting and today I have got the encouragement that we will have to get trust in the police despite the fact that we are in opposition.”

The NDC, through their regional chairman, Joseph Ade Coker, assured the police service of full cooperation to ensure the needed peace.

He said: “The journey that the police have embarked on is something that is very novel and must be applauded. The commander started by saying this is the first time that he has been to a party office not to arrest anybody but to enter into a partnership and I think it is very laudable that in Ghana today we are exhibiting that the police and the political parties can together ensure that we have a peaceful election.”

Mr Ade Coker noted there is no need to exhibit violence on election day because the will of the people must prevail.

According to him, the only way the will of the people can prevail is for the political parties to go and sell their messages to the people and allow the people to cast their vote in peace.

The police in the coming days will also visit the other political parties.