Election 2020: No room for troublemakers, says IGP
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh, has declared that security personnel will not spare rabble-rousers on election day
James Oppong-Boanuh, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), has served notice that law enforcers will deal ruthlessly with any individuals who try to disrupt the peace in Ghana during the 7 December elections.
Addressing the media in Accra on Wednesday (4 November 2020), the police chief assured Ghanaians that they will be safe on election day.
“The security services are very familiar with the laws and every person or group of persons who falls foul of the law will be dealt with,” Oppong-Boanuh said.
The IGP announced that, in total, 62,794 personnel from the various security agencies will be deployed for the elections.
“Sixty-two thousand, seven hundred and ninety-four security personnel from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Fire Service, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Ghana Armed Forces are being deployed for the elections,” he said.
“All the personnel I have mentioned will be in their regular uniforms, with the exception of officers from the Criminal Investigations Department of the Police Service and the Bureau of National Investigations, who will remain invisible.
“I have already said that we have a deep commitment to preventing crimes from happening, but where they do happen, we will arraign the offenders, do the investigations, gather the necessary evidence and get them prosecuted successfully,” Oppong-Boanuh said.
Flashpoints
The IGP disclosed that over 6,000 flashpoints have been identified in the country in the lead-up to the polls.
“We are approaching all polling stations as flashpoints. However, we have identified 6,178 flashpoints nationwide,” he said.
“The flashpoints were decided based on a number of factors such as incidence recorded in previous elections, this year’s voter registration exercise and crime rates, and other factors related to those centres.
“As a result, our approach in these areas will be slightly different from other areas. Saturated patrols and standby forces will be visible to prevent any mishap. Hot spot [tactics] and strategies for handling them will be reviewed based on emerging trends or issues.”
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