-All Police Personnel Will Be Professional

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, has assured Ghanaians that all police personnel will act professionally in the discharge of their duties, before, during and after the 2012 general election. He said, whenever members of the general public are giving report to the police, they must be specific with their information, so as to enable the police sort out the problem.

The IGP made this disclosure in an exclusive interview with The Informer. Mr. Tawiah Quaye said, inasmuch as ‘every family has a “Mensa”’ , there will be people in the police service who are likely to be partisan, but majority of the police personnel are professional, and will serve the country first before any individual or group of persons.

The IGP however, caution the general public, particularly, troublemakers, who have the intention of fomenting trouble on the Election Day, to rethink. “If you abide by the laws, you will not have any problem; but anybody who tries to destroy the electoral process, especially like stealing of ballot box, will be sorry”, the IGP stated.

Asked what he meant by the word “sorry”, the IGP explains that all should abide by the laws of the land and there will not be any need for them to be “sorry”. In a related development, however, the Police Command yesterday met with representatives of all the political parties contesting this year’s general election and assured them of equal playing field, indicating that the police will be neutral as well as professional in the discharge of their duties. In interaction sessions held with the parties, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, emphasized that the Police would apply the law fairly, to all parties, irrespective of their pedigree.

While making the point clearly that prosecution of electoral offences is not the responsibility of the Police, the IGP assured the parties that all such cases would be duly and thoroughly investigated, and dockets forwarded to the appropriate quarters for necessary action.

In order to facilitate effective communication between the Police and the political parties for expeditious solution of problems, the IGP informed the parties that a desk has been created to handle their concerns. This desk is manned by seasoned operation officers to make for professional handling of issues.

The Police also used the occasion to entreat the contesting political parties to respect the electoral laws, and constantly educate their followers, accordingly. The IGP further called on the general public to eschew peddling of falsehood that has the propensity to create tension in the country.

He also disclosed that the use of motorbikes within 200 metres radius of a polling station would not be entertained. The fora, also afforded the political parties the opportunity to express their concerns and grievances about certain happenings, for explanation and redress.

The parties were represented by NDC: Mr. Reuben Akpeke and Dr. Carl Mark Arhin; NPP : Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku and Mr. Bryan Acheampong; CPP : Youth Organizer, Mr. Abdul Rauf Kadri and National Campaign Manager, Mr. Thomas Ntumy, and PPP : the National Chairman, Nii Allotey Brew Hammond; Deputy Communication Director, Mr. Samuel Amoako; Chairman of UK branch, Mr. Kit Yawson, and the Deputy National Secretary, Mr. Paa Kow Ackon.

The Police team was made up of the IGP, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, the Deputy IGP, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan; the Director-General/Administration, COP/Mrs. Rose Bio Atinga; the Director-General/Police Operation, COP/Mr. John Kudalor; the Director-General/R&P/ICT, COP/Mr. David Asante-Apeatu; the Director-General/Welfare, DCOP/Mrs. Mina Ayim; the Director-General/Finance, DCOP/Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, and the Chief Staff Officer, ACP/Mr. Fred Adu Anim.

Meanwhile, the remaining four parties will take their turns on Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th November, 2012.