Akwatia by-election: Expert calls for enhanced security
A security analyst, Dr Festus Kofi Aubyn, has called for enhanced security measures ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary by-election at Akwatia to ensure an accident-free poll.
He urged the police to learn from past lapses, particularly during the rerun of the election in 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency, to ensure security is adequate.
Caution
Dr Aubyn, who is also the Head of Research and Capacity Building at the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic ahead of the Akwatia parliamentary by-election in the Eastern Region.
He cautioned that the upcoming by-election posed significant security risks due to the intense competition between the two main parties, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Dr Aubyn said the election was perceived as a "do or die" affair for both parties, which heightened the potential for violence.
He, therefore, stressed the importance of effective security measures to ensure a peaceful and incident-free election in Akwatia.
Dr Aubyn emphasised the need for the police to conduct thorough risk analyses and implement necessary security measures at polling stations, collation centres, and during the transportation of voting materials to prevent clashes.
He also advised the police to manage information effectively to avoid instilling fear in people, which could further escalate the risk of violence.
The security analyst reiterated the need for the police to take additional measures to ensure the safety and security of voters during the upcoming election.
Arms
Touching on the recent interception of arms by the police in the area, Dr Aubyn stressed that the development underscored the need for the police to take proactive measures to prevent violence during the election.
While commending the police for the operation, Dr Aubyn advised that they should manage information about potential security threats carefully to avoid instilling fear and panic in the population.
He said releasing such information could have unintended consequences, such as reducing voter turnout or alerting potential perpetrators to change their plans.
To ensure a peaceful election, Dr Aubyn recommended that the police should deploy a lot of officers, including the 5,000 men already announced, to provide a visible security presence across the constituency.
Police
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has assured the public of maximum security ahead of the Akwatia by-election.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has since met with stakeholders, including political parties, to discuss security preparations and ensure a peaceful election.
The police intend to deploy about 5,000 officers to ensure security during the election and have also engaged with the Electoral Commission (EC) and other stakeholders to ensure seamless operations before, during, and after the poll.
