Tamale, Oct. 5, GNA - Deputy Commissioner of Police and Northern Regional Police Commander, Ofosu-Mensah Gyeabour, has expressed concern about the possession of arms in private hands in the Region and warned that the police would undertake thorough search on suspects during political party rallies.

He reminded leadership of political parties to adhere to the Public Order Act and notify the police when organising rallies to enable the police provide the necessary security and protection. DCOP Gyeabour, who is also Chairman of Northern Regional Elections Security Task Force (RESTF), gave the warning at a meeting with representatives of political parties and the media in Tamale. The meeting was to brief representatives of political parties on security issues towards Election 2008 and their reaction. He urged leadership of the political parties to educate their activists, supporters and sympathisers to refrain from using inflammatory language, heightening of ethnic tensions, personal attacks and acts of violence.

DCOP Gyeabour assured them of the readiness of the security agencies to maintain law and order with a rapid deployment force on stand-by to respond to emergencies, transport election materials and personnel on request by the Electoral Commission. He gave the assurance that the security agencies would be, neutral, firm and fair to all the political parties and provide good leadership to win public confidence.

Mr Sham-Una Ghazi, Secretary of Tamale Central Constituency of New Patriotic Party (NPP) appealed to the Electoral Commission to recruit competent polling officers and ensure that adequate electoral materials were sent to the various polling stations on Election Day. He suggested that all party agents were conveyed on a particular vehicle during a tour of the polling stations to investigate reports of irregularities to avoid suspicion among them and enhance transparency. Mr Bruce Ayisi, Deputy Northern Regional Director of Electoral Commission advised leadership of political parties against intimidating electoral officers during electoral disputes but deal with the EC. He urged them to assist the EC to remove names of minors and other unqualified persons from the voters register during the exhibition to ensure its credibility and educate their supporters on the correct procedures of voting.