The police management team with Otumfuo
THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has tasked the Ghana Police Service to put in place proper strategies and policies to make the December 7 polls an incident-free affair.
According to him, the police and other security agencies in the country are established to work in the interest of the country, therefore, he is expecting the security agencies to carry out their mandate professionally to help sustain the trust that the public have reposed in them.
The Asante Monarch was speaking when the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, led a team of high-powered police chieftains from the police headquarters in Accra to the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi last Friday.
Continuing, the Asantehene stated that the country has, on countless occasions, organised peaceful elections, devoid of any trouble, stressing he was confident that this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections in December would follow suit.
“The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections should not create fear and panic. We have voted to elect our presidents in peace on several occasions, and 2024 will follow the same pattern,” Otumfuo said, adding, “the police should work to make Election 2024 peaceful.”
The Asantehene also expressed gross concern over incidents of illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey,’ which is fast destroying water bodies and farmlands.
“Illegal mining is destroying water bodies and our farms, so the police should play key roles to help eradicate galamsey,” he stressed, emphasising the need for all and sundry, especially the security agencies, to play roles to stop illegal mining.
On the performance of the police, the Asantehene said the police are performing very well, especially since the current IGP, George Akuffo Dampare took office, pointing out that the crime rate and vehicular accidents reduced during the recent Yuletide due to the work of police.
“We all witnessed police visibility in our communities during the Christmas season. Police visibility has helped greatly to reduce crime and road crashes, especially during the last Yuletide,” the Asantehene said, and urged the IGP and his men to sustain their good works.
The IGP, in his succinct remarks, thanked the Asantehene for appreciating the good works of the police, explaining that the police were at the Manhyia Palace to wish Otumfuo a happy new year, and also seek his wise counsel to improve their work in 2024.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi