The public has been reassured by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, that the Ghana Police Service is ready to ensure security for the upcoming presidential primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking at an event when NPP presidential candidates signed peace agreements, the IGP revealed that the party had formally written to the police a few weeks prior to let them know that the Ghana Police Service would be the only agency responsible for election security.
“Some few weeks ago, the NPP party wrote to the police to inform us that the security for the forthcoming presidential elections will be solely handled by the Ghana Police Service,” he said.
In order to guarantee a seamless and peaceful procedure, Mr Yohuno clarified that the police have since determined all voting locations and completed thorough operations plans.
“We want to assure you that we have been able to identify all the areas where the elections will take place. We have 276 plus one polling centres. We have been able to make our operational plans,” he stated.
He continued by saying that all regional commanders in charge of the different regions have been enlisted by the police department to oversee and coordinate security measures.
“We have met all our regional commanders who are responsible for these areas where these elections will take place. We have gone over all the preparations over and over and are ready to go to the field,” the IGP noted.
He claims that Bawku is the only place where more military assistance would be needed because of its particular security circumstances. He disclosed that the police had written to the Interior Minister to ask the Defence Minister to provide military support in that region.
Mr. Yohuno went on to say that the police will be in charge of providing security in all other regions of the nation, with the military being on standby.
He also revealed that senior officers will be stationed across the country to oversee operations, with at least 70 police officers assigned to each voting place.
“We assure you that at least 70 is the least number of police officers will be at each polling station. We have deployed heavily. All senior officers countrywide are going to be at the police station,” he said.
The outer deployment will be considerably reinforced, according to the IGP, which described a layered security approach with inner, middle, and outer deployment.
“We have the inner deployment, the middle deployment, and then the outer deployment. The outer deployment is heavily loaded,” he explained.
He gave stakeholders the assurance that commanders across are confident in their preparedness and that the police force has undergone extensive training and preparation.
“I want to assure you that we have done a lot of training and preparation and that my regional commanders have called me and said that they are even ready for the election today,” Mr Yohuno added.
Mr. Yohuno expressed gratitude to the party leadership for having faith in the Ghana Police Service to secure the exercise, calling it a testament to the police’s professionalism.
The NPP’s attempts to encourage peaceful internal elections and fortify unity as the party gets ready for the 2028 national elections include the signing of the peace accord.
NKONKONSA.com
