Police, political parties to ensure incident free elections

Cape Coast, Jan. 9, GNA - The Central Regional Police Command, and representatives of the various political parties in the region, have evolved measures to ensure that this year's general elections, are free of incidents.

The two groups have resolved to intensify education on the 'Public Order Act' as well as the need to ensure peaceful electioneering campaigns.

Mr Bernard Guyiri Dery, Regional Police Commander, who made this known at a press briefing at Cape Coast on Thursday, said the decision was reached at a meeting between the Regional Police Command and the political party representatives on Wednesday.

He said each political party was also to present to the police, on or before January 15, its programmes of activities to enable the police to monitor and provide adequate security to avoid any clashes. Mr Dery said representatives of the NPP, NDC, PNC and CPP who attended the meeting, adopted a three-point resolution to ensure peaceful electioneering campaign this year.

They resolved that, there was the need to ensure a peaceful electioneering campaign this year, not to repeat past mistakes that led to provocations and reprisals, and to ensure that they did nor react to any unwarranted provocations and attacks but reported to the police for the appropriate action.

According to him, the meeting discussed extensively the Public Order Act, Political Parties Act 574 and the code of conduct for political parties, to ensure that acts of intimidation and provocation, the use of insulting language and violence, were not repeated this year.

He stressed that there was the need for the various political parties to put their houses in order so that such incidents did not re-occur and pledged that the police, would be absolutely neutral, transparent, fair and firm in their duties, and would not bow to any "unnecessary demands from any political party".

He urged the various political parties to abide by the Public Order Act, which requires that five days notice be given to the police before an event is held, adding that, granting of permits for rallies and other programmes, would be on "first come first served basis".

The regional commander said he would embark on a tour of the districts to drum home to the people at the grassroots, the need to help ensure peaceful electioneering campaign this year.