The Office of the President has not prevented or hindered the police from arresting miscreants taking over public offices and properties following a change in government, Police Director of Public Affairs Superintendent Cephas Arthur has said.

There have been growing concerns over the wave of unauthorised takeover of public facilities and offices across the country by persons suspected to be linked with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The police have been criticised for standing aloof while lawless young men take the law into their hands for fear of being witch-hunted by the new government. Others have suggested government may be preventing the police from doing their job, a suggestion Mr Arthur has debunked.

Speaking to Moro Awudu on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM on Tuesday January 17, Mr Arthur said police have the support of government to arrest lawbreakers.

“No politician, the president or party chairman, is on our neck to [free arrested persons]. They are not preventing us from doing our work. The Flagstaff House is all for it urging the police to continue our work and not spare anybody on the grounds of being a politician or whatever. They say we should not spare anybody, we should go ahead and ensure that we instil sanity in the system,” Mr Arthur stated.

He urged the public to report any group of people they see attempting to take over a state facility to the police. “Call the police on MTN and Vodafone short codes 18555 or 191 on all networks,” he said.

Meanwhile, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the diplomatic community about the ongoing thuggery.

They have threatened to defend themselves if the attack on their members and the forceful takeovers of state facilities do not cease.