Police will ensure peaceful conduct of December polls - IGP

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA - The Inspector General of Police, Nana Owusu Nsiah on Thursday gave the assurance that the Police Service would do all in its power to ensure that the December polls are held in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

He said instructions had been given to regional and district commanders of the Service to cooperate with the National Commission on Civic Education, political parties and other relevant bodies to strategise on ways to make party campaigns and activities to conform to the rule of law.

Nana Owusu Nsiah was presenting a paper on the "Role of the Police Service in a Democracy," at the third Nobles International and Award Conference in Accra.

The West Africa Nobles Forum is a non-governmental organisation, which aims among others to resist illegality in governance in the sub-region through legitimate means.

He said the Police would also sensitise the citizenry to ensure that party activities were devoid of insults and acrimony so that the elections could be held in peace.

The Police, he said would be fair and firm in applying the laws, especially those relating to the maintenance of Public peace and civility.

The IGP asked the political parties to adhere to the rule of informing the Police about their political rallies in time so that the administration could make the necessary arrangement to maintain law and order.

He warned that the Police would stringently enforce the electoral laws without fear or favour of any of the contesting parties. On the performance of the duties of the Police, the IGP said they could only build effective peace and goodwill when the means and methods they used were permissible within the rule of law.

He said the rule of law was an important factor of social control in any democracy and that although the role of the Police was not to make laws, they were mandated to enforce such laws. The IGP said adequate human resources and good leadership were essential in fulfilling the role of the Police in maintaining law and order.