Poll task force identified flash points

By William Yaw Owusu

Wednesday September 17, 2008
THE Greater Accra Regional Electoral Security Task Force says it has identified certain areas in the region where political activities in the run-up to the December general election may pose security threat.

“For security, reasons, I cannot mention the flash points but I can assure you that the security agencies are working hard to bring every situation under control and ensure that the election is held in a peaceful atmosphere,” said DCOP James Oppong-Boanuh, the Regional Police Commander and chairman of the task force at the second meeting of the task force in Accra yesterday.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the police, Military, Air Force, Navy, Prisons, Fire Service, Electoral Commission, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, Bureau of National Investigations, Regional Co-ordinating Council and the Information Services Department.

Representatives of the Immigration Service and the National Commission for Civic Education, which are also members of the task force were not present.

DCOP Oppong-Boanuh said the task force would interact regularly with the political parties in order to create a conducive atmosphere for the election.

“We are going to be transparent in our dealings with the political parties. We will be non-partisan and we urge all parties to collaborate with us to make the conduct of the election very successful.”

He said, “Every aspect of our work will go out to the parties and the public at large so that they will appreciate what we are doing to maintain law, order and peace in the election.”

“We will hasten investigations into election-related incidents and will not shield any body who flouts the rules and regulations.”

He urged the people particularly the political leaders and their sympathisers not to engage in what he called “fanning the flames” in the media and appealed to them to always help the police to investigate any matter brought up.

He said the region and the country at large have enough security personnel to handle any challenges in the course of the election adding, “providing security for the election does not only involve the police but also all other security agencies.”

DCOP Oppong-Boanuh however said that private security would not be part of the security arrangement for the election.

He urged the public to go about their daily activities without fear and to report people whose activities are likely to disturb the electoral process.