Police Service organises workshop on elections

Bole (N/R), Nov. 23, GNA - A day's workshop on maintenance of peace during the December elections for 50 security personnel from the Police, Army, Custom, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Immigration Service and Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has taken place in Bole.

The workshop, organised by the Police Service, was funded by the Bole District Assembly and attended by security personnel operating within the Bole and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba Districts.

The Bole District Police Commander, Mr Raymond Martey advised the participants to desist from politics and acts that would align them to any particular political party because of the crucial role expected of them during the coming elections.

Mr Martey reminded the security personnel that it was unethical and against their profession to wear any political party's paraphernalia and cautioned them against accepting food or any gifts from political party leaders whilst on duty on the Election Day.

They should not join the jubilation that would follow the declaration of the results nor show signs of sadness openly. The Police Commander advised the personnel to stay at the polling stations till the elections were over, and not to tolerate any act of violence or lawlessness that would mar the elections and called on the Electoral Commission to recruit dedicated and competent staff instead of their favourites, who might not be able to do the job.

The District Co-ordinating Director, Alhaji Fusheini Ibn Alhassan and the District Electoral Officer, Mr Eliasu Ewuntomah, both in their speeches stressed that much depended on the security personnel if peace and order were to be maintained during the elections.

Their presence alone was enough to ward off any acts of indiscipline and lawlessness and, therefore, appealed to them to assist the Electoral Commission to conduct free and fair elections.