General News of Sunday, 28 August 2005

Source: GNA

Police to mount massive operation at Odododiodio

Accra, Aug. 28, GNA- The Police would mount a massive security operation within the Odododiodio constituency when voters go to the polls on Tuesday August 30, to elect a new Member of Parliament (MP) in a bye-election, following the death of the incumbent MP a few weeks ago. The operation would involve the placing of at least four uniform policemen at every polling station and more personnel in plain clothe across the constituency.

Reliable police source told the GNA that there would be more security personnel at volatile polling stations while officers of the Criminal Investigations Department would be asked to take video and camera shots across the constituency to identify would-be trouble makers.

The source told the GNA that soon after a press briefing in at the weekend in Accra on plans by the police to maintain security during and after the bye-elections, the Inspector General of Police met with heads of the various Units of the Police Service to finalise strategies for the voting day.

The sources said beside the massive police presence, police with water cannons would be on a standby and others on horses would patrol the streets.

The sources also said reports reaching the police indicated that macho men were being mobilised from areas like Nima, Ashaiman and other parts of the country to foment trouble in the constituency and that the police would deal drastically with any troublemakers and their mentors. The source said there would be about 25 police vehicles on standby for any eventuality at any time during and after the polls. The source said that a crack Striking Force squad at Tema with special military training would also be on standby at the Police Headquarters.

The source said Police on the polling day would deal drastically with youth who might use motorbikes without licensed number plates to disturb the peace in the constituency. 28 Aug. 05