Police say they are ready for Akwatia election

Koforidua, Aug. 12, 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.