Election miscreants would not be spared - Deputy Minister

Accra, Nov. 9, GNA - Government on Tuesday said it would not entertain any anti-social attempts to disturb this year's December 7, elections.

Mr. Thomas Broni, Deputy Interior Minister, who gave the warning said the police and the other security agencies were more than adequately equipped to perform this onerous duty to clamp down on all such people scoundrels.

Addressing a day's seminar for 80 nationwide crime officers in Accra, the Deputy Minister said as the elections approach, "There are cranks who for their selfish reasons would want to disturb the peace of this country.

"We know that our ability to track such people down is unquestionable," Mr Broni said.

He said as crime officers, it was expected of them to identify most security problems and issues that could be associated with the forthcoming elections in order to map out effective strategies, right from intelligence gathering, crime analysis and solution. Mr. Broni however, cautioned that in performing their duties, they should ensure that objectivity and professionalism as far as their constitutional responsibilities were not compromised. "You are suppose to be professional, unbiased, non-partisan, resolute, consistent, firm and fair in all you activities before, during and after the elections," he said. Mr Broni told them that, their abilities to effectively handle this assignment during the elections largely called for a thorough understanding of the basis of what they had to do. Mr. David Asante-Apeatu, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) charged the officers to be mindful of the crucial period of the nation's democratic development saying "...we are duty bound to ensure unbiased investigations into unlawful activities from any quarters that would hamper our expected peaceful free and fair elections."

He said Ghanaians are clamouring for maximum peace before, during and after the general elections so everything must be done to ensure that peace,law and order prevailed in the country.

Mr. Asante-Apeatu reminded them of the existing laws on electoral malpractice, criminal conduct and untoward behaviour that undermined law and order and said it would be important to get themselves abreast. "If we can ensure that law has been maintained the way it should be done in a democratic society...then after the elections we can all boast with pride that we have really contributed our quota towards deepening democracy in our nation," he said.

He said the conference, which has the theme: "The Role of the CID in the 2004 General Elections" would be used to take stock of the activities of the unit.

Officials of the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General Department would take the officers through a series of lectures on the elections.