Regional News of Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Source: GNA

Police identify electoral flash points in Tema Region

The Tema Police Regional Command has identified 62 electoral flash points in the Tema Region as part of the Command’s security preparations towards the December 7 general election.

The flash points are in the Ashaiman District, Community One, Community Two, New Town District and Sakumono. Others are in Prampram, Dodowa, Kpone and Ada districts.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Maxwell Atingane, Tema Regional Police Commander, said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Region’s Joint Election Security Task Force.

The Task Force comprises personnel from the Police, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Electoral Commission, National Security, Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Armed Forces.

DCOP Atingane said the Command and the Task Force had resolved to provide adequate security for a smooth electoral process in the Tema Region.

He said each flash point would have two or more security officers stationed at the polling station and standby teams would also be located near them for any emergencies.

He said all the 468 polling stations in the eight constituencies under the region would have adequate security before, during and after the elections.

DCOP Atingane said a political investigation desk has also been put in place to investigate any alleged political offences during the period.

Day and night patrols would also be carried out by a joint police and military patrol teams.

DCOP Atingane called on the general public to help the security agencies to maintain the country’s peace as peace was a shared responsibility and cautioned the public against fomenting trouble, before, during and after the election as the security agencies were well prepared to deal with such miscreants.

The security, he said, would not tolerate insulting behaviors, defacing of party posters, acts aimed at disrupting the electoral process, snatching of ballot boxes, provocative acts and disturbing public peace.

Motorbikes and other vehicles, as well as unaccredited persons, he noted, would not be allowed 50 meters radius of a polling station and appealed to drinking spot operators located within 50 meters of any polling station not to open it to the public on the day of election.

He said rechargeable lamps would be provided at the all the collating centres to cater for any blackouts.