‘Police Chief Must Go’

THE WOES of the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Robert Ayalingo, are far from over as the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has demanded his immediate withdrawal as the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Commander.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command is currently boiling following the return of DCOP Ayalingo to his post after he was served with his retirement correspondence.

His return, according to DAILY GUIDE’s sources at the regional police headquarters, has sparked disquiet in the command structure, with officers grumbling over the confusion, a situation which is threatening morale.

At a press conference yesterday in Sunyani by the Brong Ahafo Regional Executives of the NPP, the Regional Chairman of the NPP, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, stated that the beleaguered police chief could not continue to hold himself as the Regional Police Commander per the police regulations.

“Again per those regulations, such an officer does not wear the police uniform and does not benefit from the perquisites of the office as a normal serving officer is entitled to. In the case of DCOP Robert Ayalingo, he is still in the office. He is legally not permitted to be and continues to benefit from these perks to the plain chagrin of all well-meaning Ghanaians and especially the residents of this region.

“There are rumours of the NDC’s attempt to rig the elections and that the party is planning violence and to as well intimidate our supporters in the region and that DCOP Robert Ayalingo has been procured for this exercise.

“We do not want to act on hearsay but we will not also sit unconcerned for acts that breach the peace of this region to go on,” the NPP stated.

The party also challenged DCOP Ayalingo’s continuous membership of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), saying, “DCOP Ayalingo has no business to be on the REGSEC.”

The NPP has therefore given the government and the police administration a two-week ultimatum to drop the embattled regional police commander from his position or be dragged to court for justice to prevail.

Mr. Asomah-Cheremeh said DCOP Ayalingo could not be trusted with the security of the region while the region prepared towards the elections.

According to him, DCOP Ayalingo was the same public officer in whose hands the security of the region was entrusted during the biometric registration exercise and eventually had to nurse the machete wounds endured by NPP supporters.

“Our fear of uncertainties in the impending elections has been confirmed by the extension of the tenure of office of the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ayalingo.

“Our information is that the Regional Commander has received a gratuitous offer of a contract extension.

“We believe the conduct of the NDC government to perpetuate the “terror rule” of the Regional Police Commander smacks of attempts by the NDC to influence the electoral process and determine the electoral outcome,” he said.

The NPP also called on President John Mahama to create the atmosphere and the environment for free, fair, peaceful and transparent elections.

Officials of the NPP said they could not hold the anger and frustration of their members in check forever and that the patience of the rank and file of the party had been tested to the breaking point.

The NPP called on President Mahama to act decisively and make sure that there was fairness and equity in the affairs of policing in this country and not be selective in matters of national security.

Explaining some of the actions and inactions of DCOP Ayalingo in his one-and-a-half-year stay in the region, the NPP said various complaints made to the Police Administration in the region about open attacks on its members during the biometric registration exercise at Techiman South, Asutifi South as well as Asunafo North and South constituencies were ignored and no action taken against the perpetrators who were known NDC goons.

The NPP cited several other examples implicating DCOP Ayalingo for shielding NDC hoodlums who perpetuated violence against perceived NPP members in various parts of the region.

“We are increasingly getting worried that these supporters of our party are yearning for the rightly deserved justice. We believe justice delayed is justice denied,” the party pointed out.