A-G's office to blame for lack of prosecution of electoral cases - IGP

The Inspector General of Police has blamed the office of the Attorney-General (A-G) for the lack of prosecution of electoral cases involving politicians in the country.

John Kudalor said the police administration does its part of the work by submitting case jackets to the A-G’s office but they are delayed.

The police chief’s comment comes on the back of complaints by some civil society organizations about the failure of the police to prosecute persons who have with impunity infringed the law.

Speaking at a news conference held to update the public on security preparations by the administration to ensure a violence-free election come November 2016, Kudalor said the police administration is blameless.

He explained, “We the police have arrested severally those who have infringed the law but the problem comes from the A-G’s department after we have submitted them for advice and prosecution.”

Kudalor said the police would have immediately prosecuted politicians involved in electoral violence had the A-G’s department given them the go ahead.

Hand-picking some of the cases, he said “I remember the Akwatia bye-elections. I was there myself when we made a lot of arrests but the jackets were submitted to the A-G’s department.”

Buttressing the position of the IGP, Director of the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Prosper Ablor, said the hand of the police is tied when it comes to such matters.

“The law says that all dockets involving electoral offences should be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department,” he said adding no one should blame the police for not following cases involving politicians to the letter.

Meanwhile, some security experts have raised concerns about the increasing smuggling of arms and ammunitions in the country ahead of the elections.

This follows the interception of arms and ammunitions by the police in Accra, Kumasi, Bolgatanga and Techiman over the last one year.

Commenting on the issue, COP Ablor said even though the issue deserved to be addressed immediately, it is not as alarming as some people want Ghanaians to believe.

He asserted because hunters need cartridges for their activities, the administration gives them the necessary clearance from time to time to import them from outside.

He, however, noted when it comes to weapons, the administration has not given has not given anyone the license to import any weapon into the country.