Police promise swift action against assembly elections disruptors

Police say many persons arrested Tuesday for disrupting the district level elections will be swiftly dealt with.

“Police will apprehend the person, conduct further investigation and build a better a case against the person”, said police Public Affairs Director, Superintendent Cephas Arthur.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command is holding at least one person who was found with ballot papers in his possession.

In the Northern Region, a polling agent was reportedly hit in the face by a voter when who attempted to vote twice.

Furthermore, there was near chaos at a polling station in Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region after angry residents protested disqualification of their favoured aspirant.

Reports indicate that the angry residents harassed voters who had turned up to vote. It took a team of police from the Rapid Development Force to maintain calm.

In the Kwabere East District of the Ashanti Region riot police had to be called in to disperse an angry crowed threatening to lynch Electoral Commission officials after they suspended voting.

Cephas Arthur
ASP Cephas Arthur says in some of the violent incidents at some polling stations, the Electoral Commission would be have to act first.

“Cases related to elections are reserved for the Electoral Commission to prosecute so the police will do its part and ensure that dockets are built and forwarded to the Attorney General for the necessary action”, he said.

General apathy, isolated instances of violence and chaos and in some instances plain intimidation marred District assembly and Unit Committee elections on September 1.