 has urged the Ghana Police Service to arrest and prosecute individuals responsible for the recent electoral violence in Ablekuma North, as preparations intensify for the September 2 by-election in Akwatia.){kind=link}
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged the Ghana Police Service to arrest and prosecute individuals responsible for the recent electoral violence in Ablekuma North, as preparations intensify for the September 2 by-election in Akwatia.
The call was made during a high-level meeting between political parties and the police on Tuesday, August 19. Speaking to journalists after the engagement, NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye stressed that the failure of the police to act decisively undermines public trust in security arrangements for the upcoming polls.
“We said that thugs who were linked to the NDC, who caused mayhem, their images are all over, the videos are all over, and as we speak, the Ghana Police Service has not effected any decisive arrest,” Mr. Boakye said.
“We saw a communique that stated that they have arrested two persons. We do not know of any update. Were they put before the court? Are they on remand? We don’t know anything. So we were very strong on this particular point,” he added.
He further revealed that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) assured the party of swift action and hinted that arrests could be made before the close of Tuesday. “If they want us to rely on these assurances, then they must work on what happened in Ablekuma North. The Ghana Police Service should give us that confidence,” Mr. Boakye insisted.
Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), represented by Deputy Director of Elections and IT, Rashid Tanko-Computer, also raised concerns during the meeting. The NDC called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to strengthen security measures and enforce regulations at polling stations.
“They need to beef up security and make sure that the fact that you are a former Minister or former MP, if you don’t have any accreditation, you have no business at the polling station,” Mr. Tanko-Computer said.
He also reminded the EC of its legal obligation under Section 39(c) to publicly post election results at polling stations after collation, in order to ensure transparency.