3 December 2008
Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister for the Interior, has called on personnel of security agencies to adopt appropriate strategies that would help ensure peaceful elections.
"Strategies should include sensitization programmes and operations to retrieve offensive weapons, identify flash points and increase security presence in the hot spots areas... As security agencies, you have no choice but to be fair and firm. You need to be extra vigilant and ensure that those who attempt to foment trouble are put in their proper place", he said.
Dr Addo-Kufuor was speaking at the opening of a three-day workshop on the theme: "Ensuring Peaceful General Elections in 2008 - The Role of the Security Services" organized by Ministry of the Interior in collaboration with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a German governance foundation at Ho.
He noted that the political parties also had a role in educating their activists and supporters to behave responsibly.
"Politicians should avoid the use of inflammatory language and insulting their political opponents. I am happy that the Chief Justice has initiated steps to set up special courts to deal with election disputes and offences. This is quite laudable as the quick resolution of election disputes helps promote peaceful elections", Dr. Addo-Kufuor said.
Mr. Isaac Owusu-Mensah, Manager of KAS, said the workshop was aimed at promoting public safety as a mechanism of democratic development. He said the citizenry played a crucial role by supporting security services with requisite information, adding "Ghanaians have a role in ensuring total safety for themselves."
Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister, said peace was key to any meaningful development and "this is the reason why all efforts must be geared at ensuring absolute peace before, during and after the general elections" he said.
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