A former PNDC Secretary for Religious Affairs, I. K. Obeng has castigated the police for poor handling of political activities in areas where by-elections have taken place. According to him, it was most unfair for the police to bar political parties from engaging in their electioneering campaigns simply because the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama was touring the area.

Obeng, who called at the office of the “Evening News” to register his displeasure with the roles of the police in the by-elections, said “it is most unfair to the opposition parties for the police to stop them even when they have obtained the permit to campaign or hold rallies.

“Everybody knows that the Vice President’s visits to these areas are not coincidental and so if the excuse of his security is used to deny others their constitutional rights, then the playing field is not being made even”. Obeng said it was the expectation of the Ghanaians that the police Service would make every effort to stay as neutral as possible, but the trend was becoming unacceptable.

He said what happened at Navrongo, where the NDC, PNC, and DPP were prevented from holding their rallies because the Vice President was touring the area was highly unprofessional and must not be continued in other constituencies. “it is important that the Electoral Commission and other institutions charged with helping the growth of democracy ensure transparency and remove all forms of abuse of the system, including the excessive use of incumbency to political advantage,” he emphasised.

Obeng called on the Inspector General of Police, Nana Owusu Nsiah to personally ensure that the police do not get themselves involved in the politics of by-elections by allowing the government to dedicate what they must do to them.