No booze on election day- DCOP Timbillah

The Accra Regional Police have said that all drinking bars close to polling stations will be closed on election day.

The Regional Police Commander, DCOP Patrick Timbillah, who announced this at the inauguration of a 17-member election security task force in Accra last Friday, said the measure was to ensure that drunkards do not disturb the peace during the elections.

The security task force will, among other things, educate the people on the need to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner during the elections.

DCOP Timbillah said constitutional provisions on elections would be strictly enforced.

He appealed to members of the various political parties to educate their people on the need for them to comport themselves during and after the elections.

DCOP Timbillah said no political party paraphernalia should be displayed within 50m from polling stations, adding that motor riders found within 50m from polling stations would be arrested.

He said plans are in place to make the snatching of ballot boxes impossible as there would be standby police patrol team on motorcycles.

He said the police have learnt a number of important lessons from the previous elections, and are, therefore, well prepared to ensure discipline and orderliness.

He stated that with the assistance of the military, police patrol teams would intensify their day and night activities throughout all the regions of the country during and after the elections.

He revealed that the 251 flash points in the Accra Region would have police patrol agents.

Members of the election security task force, which is chaired by DCOP Timbillah, are drawn from the Police, Prisons, Fire Service, Immigration Service, Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), Regional Co-ordinating Council, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).