The Ghana Police Service has expressed worry over the rise in the number of flashpoints across various constituencies as the country prepares for the December 7 polls.

According to the Chief Operations Officer of the police, Chief Superintendent Dr Benjamin Agordzo, the police will double security in and around such areas to curb possible violence before, during, and after the elections.

Dr Agordzo, speaking exclusively to Class News’ Paa Kwesi Parker-Wilson, urged Ghanaians to partner with the police in dealing with the situation.

“…Hotspots have increased and once hotspots have increased – and according to the Electoral Commission (EC), 81 out of the 275 constituencies are flashpoints – that tells you that there is some kind of increase in electoral violence and that is not good for us as a nation because even as we mature in our democratic [dispensation], it is expected that this violence should be reducing,” he stated.

“But the paradox is that it is increasing. As we grow or progress in our democratic violence, so is violence also increasing. … It is worrying to Ghanaians and not only the police. It is a challenge for all of us and all of us must be worried about it. Police is just one institution, there are other institutions and security is a collective thing.”

He said the police would focus not only on the flashpoints during the elections, but on all polling stations as well as intensify patrols in the hotspots.