IGP orders all MPs’ bodyguards to hand over weapons ahead of Assin North by-election

The Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has directed all bodyguards of members of Parliament (MPs) and other state officials who will be in Assin North in the Central Region for Tuesday’s by-elections to hand over their weapons.

They are not to carry such rifles with them, the IGP ordered on Monday, June 26, less than 24 hours before the polls.

The directive comes after a crunch meeting between the leadership of the Ghana Police Service and the political parties as well as the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) on Monday.

The IGP, who led the police at the meeting, issued the directive to the bodyguards immediately afterwards, asking them to submit the weapons to the armourer of the nearest police station within the Assin North Constituency.

They are also alternatively to submit the weapons to the Police Election Command Centre at Assin Breku.

“Such weapons can only be collected after the election and upon specific directives to do so,” the IGP stated in correspondence to the bodyguards.

“Bodyguards are not to carry their side arms (pistol) to polling stations and collation centres,” he further directed.

“Punitive action shall be taken against anyone who disregards this instruction or fails to comply with this directive issued by the Inspector General of Police.”

“As we go into the Assin North Bye-Election tomorrow, 27th June 2023 the Police Service wishes to assure the people of Assin North in particular and Ghanaians in general that adequate security measures have been put in place within the Constituency in order to ensure security, law and order before, during and after the election”.

In addition, at the instance of the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Management Board (POMAB) held a meeting this morning with key stakeholders in the election including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) and the Electoral Commission to enhance the working relationship among all stakeholders towards a peaceful election.

At the meeting, the security concerns of all the stakeholders were noted and have been factored into the final security strategy for the election.

However, one concern all the stakeholders want the public to help them address is the circulation of false information on social media. In this regard, “we would like to urge the public to be circumspect in their reportage on the election and avoid circulating false information that has the likelihood to occasion a breach of peace since the police will take the necessary action against anyone found culpable”.

The NPP team was led by the National Chairman and National Organiser whiles the NDC team was led by the National Chairman and General Secretary. The LPG was also led by its National Secretary and Regional executives and the Electoral Commission was led by its Director of Operations.

“We wish to urge the people of Assin North constituency to go about their normal activities freely including going out to exercise their civic duty of casting their vote.

“We wish to express our gratitude to all our stakeholders for their cooperation so far and look forward to the same level of cooperation for the last lap of the election to ensure a safe, secure and peaceful exercise”.

By uniquenewsgh.com