Police in Ashanti region to go all out in securing polling stations at district assembly polls

Police in the Ashanti Region will pay equal attention to all polling stations in the quest to ensure incident- free process in Tuesday’s local government elections.

Though the regional command has identified some flashpoints, officials say no particular spot will be underrated in the provision of security.

Over 4 million voters are expected to cast their ballots at 4, 833 polling stations in the region. .

Command authorities will not give details of how many personnel will be deployed on polling day except to say there are enough for the exercise.

Personnel on election duties will treat all polling stations as flash points.

‘’There are flash points around but we have taken every polling station as a flash point. We are policing every polling station equally. We have enough men to police the elections. We are very much prepared’’, Public Relations Officer, ASP Yussif Mohammed Tanko revealed.

A special Operational Center will be set up to coordinate and liaise with personnel on the field for prompt response to any unforeseen developments on the field.

Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Yussif Mohammed Tanko, tells Nhyira Fm the size of each polling station will determine how many personnel to be deployed there.

‘‘We are deploying men at various polling stations to have a close monitoring of activities at those stations. We are also deploying patrol teams that would be moving around to ensure there are no disturbances. We also have Operational Center where officers would be detailed to coordinate the activities of men on the ground’’.ASP Tanko said.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission says all is set for the Assembly and Unit Committee Elections, with dispatch of election materials already in progress.

Voting will take place in all electoral areas except Dichemso in Kumasi where a High Court has placed an interim injunction after a suit was brought against the Electoral Commission by an aspirant.

Three thousand, 578 contestants, made up of 3, 376 males and only 202 females are vying for 1,058 seats across the various assemblies in the region.

E.C. Regional Director, Paul Boateng, says electoral officers; including Presiding and verification officers, have received adequate training for the exercise.

Story by Ghana/Nhyira Fm/Ohemeng Tawiah