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Public Agenda (Accra)

Ghana: Recognize Other Security Personnel - IGP Appeals to Public

Basiru Adam

12 December 2008

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The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Patrick K. Acheampong has said that security personnel deployed to polling stations during the first round of elections were drawn not only from the Ghana Police Service but other security services.

The IGP has therefore urged all Ghanaians to recognize the presence of other security personnel other than the police at polling stations in the upcoming runoff elections.

Indeed, the National Elections Security Task Force is drawn from the various security agencies including the Ghana Immigration Service, the Prisons Service, the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service and the Ghana National Fire Service.

During the first round of elections on December 7, some members of the public called into radio stations and made allegations to the effect that some polling stations had very few or no security personnel manning them.

In doing so, it appears; those individuals looked out for only police personnel, taking no cognizance of the presence of other security personnel. This, according to the IGP is wrong on the part of the public. "Our sister Security Services assist us in this duty and should be recognized by the public as such."

He cited an example of a polling station he visited after such an allegation, only to realise that there were not less than eight personnel from various security agencies.

As such, the IGP noted, media organizations, particularly radio stations should "sieve" the information they receive from members of the public who do not have any orientation in media work before putting them out for public consumption.

"We also observed that the press took on a large number of people who are not regular staff to record results at the polling stations and transmit them over the airwaves. It was noted that some were fumbling with either pronunciation or with actual figures; others announced the results according to the position on the ballot paper, whilst some announced beginning with the two big parties, which made it all the more confusing. It is therefore advised that, between now and the 28, they should be given training on how to report accurately to bring uniformity to their reportage."

Aside the note of caution, the IGP was full of praise for Ghanaians including the electorate, the political parties, the media, the Electoral Commission and his own men and women "for their selfless dedication to duty during the period under review."

On a rather good-humored note, the IGP said he did not hear much commendation from Ghanaians for his men and women who on this occasion acquitted themselves very well. He revealed though that he had been receiving calls from outside the country including from Mohammed Ibn Chambas of ECOWAS and Nigeria's IGP, both commending him and his officers for ensuring law and order during the elections.

Before the programme ended though, some journalists reminded the IGP that they have, from their various media houses, been congratulating the security agencies for a job well done.

The IGP, who was speaking at a press conference in Accra further stressed that "the police cannot be at every polling station. "Out of the numbers, some are trained as reserves and cannot be part of the regular deployment to the various polling stations."

The press conference, held at the Police Headquarters, was attended by members of the National Elections Task Force which is includes some civilians.

The aim of the conference was to "review our performance over the period before and during the December 7 elections; discuss problems encountered by our officers, look at lessons we can learn and try to find solutions in order to prepare for the 28 of December, 2008."

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