Talk of election chaos media hype - IGP

The chairman or the National Elections Security Task Force (NESTF), Mr P. K. Acheampong, has described the perceptions of tension and chaos surrounding the electioneering and the December elections as a creation of the media and some persons which does not reflect the situation on the ground.

Mr Acheampong, who is also the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), told the Daily Graphic that in spite of the hullabaloo being linked to the conduct of the campaigns and elections, indications from the regions were on the contrary good.

He noted with satisfaction that apart from the unfortunate clashes in Berekurn, Gushiegu and Agbogbloshie, a high level of tranquillity has characterised the electioneering of all the presidential candidates.

But he pointed out that the fact that that people involved in the disturbances at Gushiegu, Tamale, Agbogbloshie and Berekum were being prosecuted must be a signal to all the political players and potential trouble-makers that the security agencies were on top of the issues and would spare no one.

He said even in those incidents, the stakeholders, including the political parties, met the security agencies in their respective jurisdictions to resolve their differences.

Mr Acheampong said by its assessment, 95 per cent of the campaigns had been incident-free, particularly those involving the presidential candidates.

The IGP said in spite of the peace and tranquillity prevailing in the country vis-à-vis the electioneering, the security agencies were ready to deal with any problem that might arise in the course of the conduct of or after the elections.

He said the preparedness of the security agencies was witnessed in the "excellent national simulation exercise conducted on November 16 and 18, 2008".

He said the regional commanders would meet in Accra next week to review the operations and put finishing touches to the preparations for the elections.

He said at the regional commanders' meeting, the security chiefs would discuss how the various regions could cooperate on election day and thereafter.

That, he said, was necessary because the security situation in some regions or areas was not as serious as others.

According to him, the security personnel to monitor and maintain law and order during the elections would be deployed by December 5, 2008, three days after they had cast their vote in the special voting on December 2.

Mr Acheampong assured the electorate and Ghanaians in general that the security agencies were on top of security issues and they should, therefore, remain calm.

Source: Daily Graphic