IGP cautions police personnel against partisan positions
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, has cautioned police personnel against taking partisan positions, particularly, towards the general elections, scheduled for November 7.
The IGP gave the caution in Bolgatanga during his a visit to the region as part of measures towards ensuring peace during the political season.
He told the personnel, drawn from the various units and the districts in the Upper East Region that the Police Administration had to be fair and firm in the dispensation of their duties during the period.
“Any personnel found culpable shall be severely disciplined by the Police Administration. Professionalism should be our watch word,” the IGP warned.
He said from all indications, the 2016 elections was going to be keenly and fiercely contested and as an institution mandated by the constitution to maintain law and order, it was incumbent on the Police Administration to provide an atmosphere of security to enable all the political parties to campaign without any problem.
He explained that peace and security could only be achieved through the collaboration of multiple actors spearheaded by the Police Administration.
“It is against that background that the Police Administration has instituted the IGP series dialogue targeting all election actors, including the youth groups, the political parties, traditional, religious and opinion leaders across the 10 regions of the country,” he explained.
“The first dialogue was on 10th March 2016 with the Youth Groups of all the Political Parties, where together we had healthy discussions on how the Youth Groups and the Police can work towards peaceful elections in November 2016.
“We also met leaders of the National Democratic Congress Party on 11th March 2016 and held discussions on how the party can work towards peaceful election. We will also be meeting leaders of the other political parties in the next few weeks,” the IGP said.
Whilst commending the Upper East Regional Police Command for working hard to maintain relative peace in the Region, the IGP urged all the Regional and District Commanders throughout the country to replicate the IGP series dialogue.
He gave the assurance that the Police Administration would provide all the necessary personnel and logistics towards ensuring peaceful elections.
The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon Yaw Afeku, said chieftaincy and land issues were some of the major problems in the Region.
He, however, said his outfit, in collaboration with the Regional Security Council, was working tirelessly to ensure that the disputes did not take a political twist.
He said the Police had also re-strategised to combat crimes such as armed robbery, motorbike stealing and motor accidents, which were reducing.
The DCOP appealed to the IGP to assist the Police in the area with accommodation and logistics.
Earlier, some of the Police officers undertook a mock riot control exercise, as part of the preparation towards the elections.
They were advised not to resort to the use of lethal force in controlling aggrieved crowd in demonstration but to use diplomacy to calm the crowd and to arrest the ring leaders.
The IGP was accompanied by the Director General in-charge of Services, Commissioner of Police Oppong Boanu, the Director General of Operations, CO P Christian Tetteh Yohuno and other Unit Commanders.
Source: GNA