Refrain from acts of violence, police service advice civilians

Tema, Sept. 14, GNA - The administration of the Ghana Police Service has appealed to the public to refrain from acts of violence and trading of insults during the December general elections.

The Deputy Tema Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ransford Ninson implored the public to also desist from defacing posters of their opponents for the maintenance of peace in the country before, during and after the elections.

He made the appeal on Friday at the passing out parade of the first batch of the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) of the Tema Police Command. The 60 personnel of the RDF received two weeks intensive in-service training on swift respond to emergency situations such as the control of rioutous mob.

ACP Ninson noted that, it was important that the country's peace was not jeopardized during the elections adding, "an economically good and sound economy which is development oriented will only thrive in a secured environment." He further urged the civilians to minimize their accusation of the police at the least opportunity but should rather encourage personnel to give of their best in protecting the peace of the country. He said civilians should cooperate with the police to achieve their objectives of providing a secured environment to attract investors for the country's development. On the need for the RDF, the Deputy Tema Commander stated that the Force would be of immense help to the regional command in managing the flash points and other problems that might crop up before, during and after the elections. He said the Force had already been established in the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Western Regions, adding that, it was the plan of the police administration to set up the RDF in all regions. ACP Ninson indicated that training of the personnel would "also physically and psychologically get our men set in discharging their duties professionally and democratically to enable the public appreciate and support the police."

He observed that it would also enable the personnel to be adequately prepared to provide the needed security, especially during the political campaign and the election itself. The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr David Quaye Annang who chaired the function cautioned residents of the metropolis and the Ashaiman municipality against seeing the establishment of the Force as an opportunity to create trouble for the police. Mr Annang therefore urged the public to desist from creating and engaging in violent activities adding, "we are increasingly becoming impatient as we want to create confusion at the slightest misunderstanding." The personnel dressed in their protective clothing with some holding shields, in a mock exercise during the passing out ceremony, demonstrated how they would control riots and arrest ring leaders of angry protestors to destabilize the mob.