REGSEC vows to curb political violence

By Kwabia Owusu-Mensah, GNA
Kumasi, May 27, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has vowed to take stringent security measures to prevent election-related violence in the region.

Mr John Alexander Ackon, the Regional Minister, said it would act firmly to protect the peace before, during and after the November general election.

Speaking at his maiden interaction with journalists in Kumasi, he said the Council would be uncompromising on the peace and security of the people in the region - the hotbed of political opposition.

He therefore asked the political parties and their supporters to get right with the law and accept to play by the rules of the game.

Mr. Ackon made reference to nasty incidents witnessed during the recently held limited voters' registration exercise and said they were determined to prevent a repeat of such violent scenes.

They were not going to leave anything to chance, he stated, adding that, peace was vital for the sustenance of the socio-economic progress the nation was making.

He announced that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) had signed performance agreement with all the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to ensure that they worked to improve local governance and the living conditions of the people.

A book detailing the performance of the government across the various districts in the region would soon be launched as a form of accountability to the people, he added.

The Minister told the journalists that all arears in respect of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) had been cleared and therefore they could not be any justification for the assemblies to complain about the lack of funds to execute development projects.

He praised the traditional authorities and the media for the continued support towards the development and the promotion of peace in the region.

Mr Andy Osei Okrah, the Deputy Regional Minister, identified the media as a key stakeholder in the development process and called for its total cooperation to bring progress.

GNA