We’re ready to deal with election-related violence – IGP

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. John Kudalor, has given the assurance that the Police will prepare adequately to deal with any contingencies that may occur in the November 7 polls.

“We will make sure we act impartially and professionally during the elections so that the outcome of the polls would be wholly accepted by all the political parties and their leaders,” he stated. The IGP made this known at his maiden visit to the Western Region to familiarize himself with the readiness of the personnel towards the elections.

The visit afforded him the opportunity to listen to the concerns of the personnel, assess their welfare and their numerical strength, as well as the logistical and equipment standing of the Service in the Region.

The IGP noted that, providing protection during elections required specialized training, therefore, he said, the Police Administration had started running a Public Order Management Training for all their personnel ahead of the elections, across the country.

The Director-General in-charge of Operations and Services, Logistical and Equipment, as well as the Head of Communications, accompanied their boss.

Mr. Kudalor called for constant training and practice by the personnel to enable them execute their mandate to the best of their abilities in order to operate at the optimum level.

The Police Service, he said, had held fruitful discussions with various stakeholders, and solicited their concerns on the elections towards ensuring a free, fair and transparent outcome. They include leaders of political parties and their youth groups and the presidential candidates and their running mates.

With regard to providing protection for the various presidential candidates and their running mates, he said, the Service had finalized arrangements with them, therefore, the Police Personnel would be deployed to the candidates from July 1.

He said the Service had strengthened security at the various strategic installations of the State in the country, including the Aboadze Power enclave, Gridco Power Plants and the Akosombo Dam, as well as the various border towns. He said the Service has had constant interactions with the Ghana Immigration Service and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, to protect the country’s frontiers from any infiltration by foreigners during the elections.

The Director-General in-charge of Operations, Commissioner of Police (COP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohunu, said in the event of any demonstration by aggrieved persons, the Police must use diplomacy, with a senior police officer negotiating with the demonstrators to retreat, instead of being brutal in controlling them.

He stressed the need for the personnel to prepare against any eventualities like demonstrations or chaos to prevent negative outcomes. The IGP paid courtesy calls on the Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo and the Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V.

He inspected quarter guard mounted in his honour at the Regional Police Headquarters at Sekondi.

He also witnessed an exhibition of the Public Order Management equipment and Crime Scene Management equipment displayed at the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) Unit of the Ghana Police Service in Takoradi, as well as a simulation exercise to test their readiness against violence.