The Accra Regional Police Commander, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, yesterday met representatives of registered political parties to discuss how the upcoming elections could be held without a breach of the peace of the nation.
The meeting was attended by the regional and national executives of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), New Patriotic Party (NPP), United Reform Party (URP), Progressive People’s Party (PPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), Yes Party, and People’s National Convention (PNC).
Before holding a closed-door meeting with the representatives of the political parties, Dr Dampare noted that the aim was to strategise on how to ensure peaceful election in December.
He noted that the election was not a day’s event but an entire process which could be categorised into three, namely before, during and post-election activities “and strategies need to be put in place to safeguard the peace of our country.”
Objective
Dr Dampare said the meeting was the first in a series aimed at establishing regular interaction between the police and other stakeholders to ensure that they did not engage in any activity which could disrupt peace and security in the region.
“Soon political parties will be engaging in campaigns to seek the mandate of the people and it is the responsibility of the police to ensure law and order. We are here to share ideas and to establish a cordial relationship to have access to each other, the police commander said.”
The meeting, he said, would also offer the political parties the opportunity to express their expectations of the police as well as share with the police flashpoints and other security concerns.
It was also to be used as a platform for the political parties to share their programmes with the police to enable them to plan ahead of time.
He urged the political parties to appoint liaison officers at the regional and constituency levels who would liaise with the police in what he described as early warning policing system.
Dr Dampare promised that the police would be professional, transparent and resolute in carrying out their mandate and urged the political parties and their supporters to trust the police by doing away with any perception of mistrust.
Hotline
Speaking on behalf of the political parties present, the acting General Secretary of the NDP, Mr Mohammed Frimpong, commended the police command for initiating the interaction as it would contribute to the maintenance of order, peace and public safety in the region.
Source: Daily Graphic
