Dr. George Akuffo Dampare exchanging greetings with some members of the clergy during his tour of churches in Accra
INSPECTOR-GENERAL of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has indicated that he will deploy all his mechanisms to ensure that the 2024 general election receives the acknowledgment as the best election experienced under the Fourth Republic.
The IGP emphasised that his eagerness to ensure the December 7 polls remain peaceful is to leave a legacy of peaceful elections for posterity to appreciate the work of the National Security Taskforce, which he chairs.
He warned that the police would not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone who attempts to disrupt the upcoming elections.
The IGP made this known when he led members of the Police Management Board (POMAB) to visit some selected churches in Accra. The churches include The Church of Pentecost, Dr. Thomas Wyatt Assembly, Accra New Town District; The Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Kpeehe; Assemblies of God, Ringway Gospel Centre Osu; Presbyterian Church of Ghana Osu; Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka and the Ghana Police Church.
Dr. Dampare urged the Christian fraternity to promote peace and avoid violence during the 2024 elections.
“I will seize this opportunity to plead with you that you continue to put yourself forward as a vessel to educate your households, community members, colleagues, also among the church and across anywhere that you can access, to make sure that those people also don’t make themselves available for anybody to use them to serve their selfish personal interests,” he stated.
Pledging the Police Service’s commitment to upholding peaceful elections and professionalism, the IGP assured that “we, the security agencies, are ready to ensure that we do all that it takes to work with everybody to sustain the peace, security, law, and order of the nation. We will live and stop at nothing to ensure that this happens.”
Police Preparedness
Dr. Dampare stated that for some time now the Police Service have been preparing for the December 7 polls, as plans are far advanced in ensuring a peaceful and violence-free election.
He mentioned that this preparation was evident in the previous mini-elections the two major political parties held, with no causalities recorded.
He further stated that the police is deploying tactical measures to ensure a peaceful environment ahead of the election.
“I must say for the police, we started preparing for the December 7 polls not today. This is why during the various political party elections there was no violent incident. This is because the service has plans for peaceful elections management,” he stressed.
He called on everyone to assist the police in enhancing security, law, and order to make the 2024 general election the most peaceful in the history of the country.
“We have come to say thank you to all of you in connection with these upcoming elections. The way we have allowed ourselves to be used as a vessel by the good Lord in conducting ourselves in a manner that has led to a situation where so far, with all the election processes, we have not heard anything,” he stated.
Chief Imam Visit
Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Lansa Seidu, who represented the IGP, last Friday engaged with the National Chief Imam, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and the Muslim community at the National Mosque.
He emphasised that the taskforce has put in place measures to ensure that Ghanaians can go about their daily routines on election day without any intimidation.
Chief Superintendent Grace Ansah Akrofi, Head of the Public Affairs Directorate at the Ghana Police Service, emphasised the importance of unity among Ghanaians ahead of the elections.
She noted that the Elections Security Taskforce will continue to engage with all stakeholders to promote a sense of oneness and peace throughout the electoral process.
The Election Security Taskforce’s engagement with the National Chief Imam and the Muslim community is a significant step towards ensuring peaceful and secure electoral process.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke