We’ll be ruthless: Police warn ahead of election 2020

The Police Administration is prepared to deal with anybody, including police officers, who take the law into their own hands in matters relating to the December 2020 general election, the Commissioner of Police responsible for General Services, Mr George Mensah, has warned.

He said since the police was the lead internal security organisation mandated under the 1992 Constitution to maintain law and order, the service had instituted measures to preserve the sanctity of the forthcoming general election to ensure that lives and property were protected before, during and after the polls.

Mr Mensah gave the warning when he deputised for the Inspector General of Police, Mr James Oppong Boanuh, to inaugurate the refurbished Akwatia District Police Headquarters at a ceremony at Akwatia last Thursday.

Refurbished Police Station

The Nkosuohene of Akwatia, Nana Baffour Kwasi Darkwa Bimpey I, carried out the refurbishment, which included the conversion of the old Inspectors’ quarters into a new District Police Headquarters, painting and tiling of all offices and the compound, equipping all the offices with ceiling fans, refrigerators and 10 separate 32-inch flat screen TV sets, among others.

The function attracted many dignitaries, including the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akwatia, Ms Mercy Adu Gyamfi, aka Ama Sey; the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Denkyembuor, Mr Seth Birikorang-Ofosu; the Akwatiahene, Osabarima Kofi Boateng II; the Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Peter Baba and the Asamankese Divisional Police Commander, ACP Kankam Boadu.

Mr Mensah stressed that the Police Service would deal with any mistreats who would try to violate any of the rules of the game during and after the general election.

Stakeholders

He, therefore, advised stakeholders, including traditional rulers and assembly members, to always engage with the youth not to foment troubles, saying “we have only one Ghana, and the law will be strictly applied against anyone who comes into conflict with the law”.

The commissioner assured police personnel in Akwatia and its environs that the collaboration and support from the public could only be guaranteed when they demonstrated professionalism, respect for the civil liberties and human rights of the people.

“However, any unprofessional and unethical conduct which has the tendency to drag the image of the police into disrepute will not be entertained by the police administration,” he emphasised.

Nkosuohene praised

Mr Mensah praised the Akwatia Nkosuohene for providing the edifice, and urged the Akwatia Police Command to ensure that the facilities were well maintained at all times.

The DCE, Mr Birikorang-Ofosu, expressed concern about the dwindling number of police personnel in Akwatia through transfers without replacement, and appealed to the police administration to post more personnel to the district to maintain law and order, especially in the election period.

Safety protocols

He deplored the attitude of some people of Akwatia who organised massive funerals without regarding the safety protocols in contravention of the government’s directive in relation to the COVID-19 preventive protocols.

Earlier in a welcoming address, the Asamankese Divisional Police Commander, Mr Kankam Boadu, appealed to other affluent people in the society to help in rehabilitating other police stations in the division.

The Akwatiahene, Osabarima Kofi Boateng, said apart from the refurbishment of the Akwatia Police Station, the Nkosuohene had constructed a modern durbar grounds for the Akwatia community.

He also praised the Akwatia District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent Yaw Dankwah Agyekum, for carrying out some renovations at the police station from his own resources.