VIP guards not for domestic chores – Police to flagbearers

The Ghana Police Service has issued a stern warning to political parties to desist from subjecting police officers deployed to protect their flagbearers to domestic chores.

In April this year, the Ghana Police Service unveiled plans to provide protection for presidential candidates and their running mates before and during the November 7 general elections, following the flying of three South African ex-police officers into the country by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to train VIP security detail for the party’s flagbearer and running mate.

The police said the package forms part of security arrangements being put in place to ensure a peaceful electioneering process, but was concerned about how the security provided will be used by the politicians.

Speaking at a forum to finalise security detail and modalities for the provision of security for presidential candidates in Ada, Tuesday May 24, Director in charge of operations at the police headquarters, Chief Supt Dr Benjamin Agordzo advised politicians not to involve the police in political discourse.

“Please let us do very well not to involve them in politics. And we can do better if we do not directly have political conversations with them”, he stated.

“Avoid using them for domestic chores, they will not be sweeping your bedrooms, they will not be fetching water for you. If you decide for one reason or the other that they should stay in your boys’ quarters so that they can protect you very well, we do not have a problem with it, but please do not use them for domestic chores…. Let us not compromise them and they are also not house guards, their duty is to give VIP protection as you go round your duties. Do not reduce them that as you are going out they should remain in the house and protect your house for you, no, that is not their duty, they are not the watchmen of the house or providing static guard duties in your house”, Dr Agordzo told the politicians.