Police deploy 2,085 officers to oversee assembly elections

The police administration has deployed 2,085 officers to regions across the country to oversee the District Assembly Elections slated for Tuesday September 01, 2015.

Officers from the Ghana police and affiliate security agencies, prisons, immigration and customs were this morning briefed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of police operations, COP John Kudalor ahead of their deployment.

He tasked the officers to exhibit professionalism and uphold peace and ensure security in the various districts they have been deployed to.

Officers of the Customs Division and Police gathered at the headquarters awaiting deployment

COP Kudalor told Joy News Editor and Head of Security Desk, Dzifa Bampoh, that he is confident that the officers deployed to the various towns and villages will do a good job.

“We took them through the dos and don’ts of security officers at the polling stations and reminded them that they must be as neutral as possible. This election is apolitical but there are human beings involved and they all have their supporters so some may try to disrupt the process.

“They are not to be distracted from what they are supposed to do. They are there on the instructions of the various electoral officers who will be at the polling stations. They are well equipped and knowledgeable so far as election rules and regulations are concerned”, he added.

He indicated that in case there is a problem or dispute, the officers must apprehend the culprits and call the appropriate authority.

“Each area has been zoned and there are patrol teams patrolling those areas so anyone who causes any problem the patrol teams will be called to pick them up to the nearest police station and various documentation and entries will be made and appropriate action taken under the instruction of the electoral commission and the laws of this country.

Officers of the Prisons Service assembled at the police headquarters

Dzifa Bampoh was at the Police Headquarters where the deployments were made and reports that the 2,085 officials are headed to six regions.

Customs and Immigration officers have been deployed to the Eastern and Volta Regions respectively.

Two separate batches of prisons officers - 449 and 200 – have been moved to the Ashanti and Central Region respectively.

Batches of the Police, made up of the CID/Service Workshop/Central Band and Training Schools have also been sent to the Northern and Brong-Ahafo Regions.

Police Public Affairs Director, Sup. Cephas Arthur told Dzifa that officers for Greater Accra will be deployed tomorrow because they do not have to travel like their colleagues who have left today.

In the Western, Upper East and West Regions the police say there are enough officers to manage security for the district level elections, hence there will be no need for deployment.

The Fire Service, on the other hand will be supporting officers in the Greater Accra region.