COP Kofi Boakye
THE ASHANTI Regional Police Commander, COP Kofi Boakye has sternly cautioned the Electoral Commission (EC) to refrain from suspicious acts that could create unnecessary tension in the system on December 7, the voting day.
The police chief observed that acts such as late arrival of electoral materials, sending wrong electoral materials to wrong polling stations and EC officers giving wrong information to police personnel at polling centers, can create tension.
COP Kofi Boakye has therefore charged EC to diligently carry out its mandate of supervising the upcoming elections in a free, fair and transparent manner.
According to him, EC should make sure that the electoral materials were transported to the right polling stations on the stipulated time so that the people would have confidence in the EC, so as to help reduce avoidable tension.
He was speaking during a mammoth meeting of police officers in the Ashanti Region at the regional police headquarters in Kumasi. The meeting was the last meeting of the police officers before the December 7 polls.
The meeting was also used to brief the police chiefs about the roles of the police during the upcoming elections.
COP Kofi Boakye insisted that disturbances on the day of voting could be reduced greatly especially if the EC conducted its activities in a professional manner, stressing that the police would maintain law and order before, during and after the voting.
Snap Checks
He announced that the police would soon begin an exercise to search vehicles that ply the roads in the region, before, during and after the elections, to make sure that people don’t move around with offensive weapons.
COP Kofi Boakye also warned people who have registered guns not to carry them around, especially on the voting day, stating that the police would not hesitate to arrest anyone that would be found in possession of guns.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander stated that motorbikes have been banned at least 100 meters away from polling centers, stressing that anyone that would flout this rule would be arrested and dealt with.
He warned police personnel against indulging in acts that are solely the prerogative of the EC officials, stressing that the major role of the police is to make sure that there is law and order at the polling centers.