Koforidua, Aug. 12, Ghanadot/GNA – The Eastern Regional Police
Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Stephen Andoh-Kwofie,
says the police are ready to ensure that the re-run of the
parliamentary election at six polling stations in Akwatia on
August 18 is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
He said the police would enforce the law to the letter to ensure
that anyone who would attempt to disrupt the peace before,
during and after the election would be dealt with in accordance
with the law.
Mr Andoh-Kwofie, who was interacting with the media and
representatives of political parties in Koforidua on Tuesday,
advised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New
Patriotic Party (NPP) to educate their supporters on the need to
comport themselves.
He said the Akwatia election was not the first to be held in the
country and also not the last adding that it behoved on the two
main political parties to play their roles well to ensure an
incident free poll.
Mr Andoh-Kwofie said on the Election Day only accredited persons
would be allowed to be at the polling stations and warned that
any unauthorized person found at those centres would be
arrested.
He said though the election would be taking place at only six
polling stations, police presence would be felt in Akwatia to
ensure law and order.
He said the police had prepared adequately to be able to manage
any post election violence adding “We can assure you that we are
ready for the Akwatia election”.
Mr Andoh-Kwofie appealed to both the media and the political
parties to play their roles effectively to ensure the success of
the election adding that ensuring free, fair and transparent
election is not the duty of the police and the Electoral
Commission (EC) alone.
Mr Paul Boateng, Eastern Regional Director of the EC, said media
personnel should wait for the final result before going on air
to avoid any confusion.
During an open forum Mr Boateng assured the political parties
that new ballot papers would be used in the conduct of the
election since some of the ballot papers used in the previous
election could not still be accounted for.
GNA