IGP James Oppong-Boanuh
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh, has disclosed that the police will deal ruthlessly with any person or group who will try to disrupt the December 7 general election.
Sounding very confident, he stated emphatically that the Ghana Police Service (GPS) is battle ready to deal with any eventuality in order to make the upcoming elections an incident-free affair.
Addressing a number of journalists at the Police Training School at Patase in Kumasi on Thursday right after a ‘Show of Force’ exercise by some policemen, Mr. Oppong-Boanuh cautioned the youth against allowing themselves to be used to foment trouble, stressing that anyone who would misbehave would be dealt with accordingly.
“The police and the other security forces would team up and we will really ruthlessly with anybody or group who would try to cause troubles during the national elections,” he said.
The IGP, who was impressed with the performance of the policemen who took part in the exercise, hinted that the Ghana Police Service “is morally and physically ready to work and ensure peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections.”
“The equipment, logistics and other things that would help motivate the police to deliver would be provided ahead of the December 7 elections,” the IGP assured.
Reason For Visit
According to him, he was in the Ashanti Region to meet with the Ghana Police Service’s partners to forestall peace in areas such as the Manhyia Palace, the seat of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, ahead of the polls.
He said he also travelled to the region to personally audit the operational capacity of the police so that he would be well informed about what the police need in terms of logistics.
Mr. Oppong-Boanuh also said he would meet and interact with senior police officers (SPOs) in the region and find out from them their basic needs and other challenges which would prevent them from delivering.
Meeting Officers
Meanwhile, the IGP has asked top police officers in the Ashanti Region to be active and uphold their supervisory roles in order to improve the delivery of their (policemen) service in the region.
Mr. Oppong-Boanuh expressed concern about the lackadaisical attitude of some officers, stressing the need for each officer to work harder than ever.
“Most of you work hard but some do not and without full complement of each one of us, the burden would be too heavy to carry. A stitch in time saves nine,” the IGP stated.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi