Although police officers have over the years been tagged as being in favour of one political party or the other, especially in election years, these officers must remain firm and fair ahead of the December 7 presidential and parliamentary polls, COP Kofi Bokaye, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, has said.

COP Boakye said although some police officers have not lived up to expectation, especially in dealing with political violence, their role in ensuring peace before, during and after the elections must not be underestimated.

Speaking at a meeting with district and division police commanders in Kumasi on Friday, 25 November, COP Boakye said: “In this election, it will not only be your actions but your inactions are also going to be key in ensuring free, fair and impartial elections. As police commanders, you have a critical role to play in this upcoming election and our role, first and foremost, is to maintain law and order. And in the maintenance of this law and order, all criminal activities are to be addressed and addressed swiftly in a timeous manner and also fairly without any discrimination.”

“We all know the police, although hypocritically has been accused in every election year for supporting one party or the other, and most often than not for supporting the government in power, thankfully the two major political parties have been in power before, so, if we are accused of that I don’t think it is something that anybody is worried [about]. But depending on where each stands, he will accuse us.

“Our duty is to remain professional and do the work that you are supposed to do and I am emphasising the point that it is not only what you do but what you refuse to do [that] will be used to judge you. There have been instances where political party activists have misbehaved and some officers have shirked their responsibilities under the cover of politics; that it was a political activity. I think the time has come and looking at the critical nature of this election, the police must stand up to be counted as one of the central architects in ensuring law and order.”