Register all motor bikes – Party activists told

The Ashanti Regional Police has commenced a rigorous exercise to clamp down on users of unregistered motor bikes.

Political party leaders have thus been ordered to advise their supporters to register all motorbikes used for political activities in the region.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Augustine Gyenning, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said the move was to check the current spate of unregistered motor bikes being used for all sort of criminal activities and political violence in order to ensure total peace before, during and after the upcoming general elections.

He was interacting with stakeholders in Kumasi on Tuesday, as part of effort to strategise for clean and peaceful electioneering campaigns this year.

DCOP Gyenning also called on political party leaders not to shield criminals but allow them to face the law so as to serve as a deterrent for others. He added that though it was not wrong to escort political leaders on motor bikes, the bikes needed to be registered.

The Police boss used the occasion to call on stalwarts in the ruling National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party, to continue to talk to their supporters, especially the youth to avoid acts likely to disturb the prevailing peace.

He appealed to the media to be circumspect to avoid the unfortunate happenings in some parts on the African continent in Ghana.

He called on the country's Electoral Commission (EC) to scrutinize properly electoral officers to be recruited for the upcoming December 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Mr. Samuel Tettey, Ashanti Regional Director for the EC, appealed to the party leaders not to push their supporters to engage in electoral malpractices.

Mr. Frederick Freduah Antoh, Mr. Joseph Yammin and Mr. Ali Arime, representatives of NPP, NDC and PNC respectively, all called on the Police to be neutral to enjoy public trust.**