Police officers must wear name plates on voting day – NDC to IGP

Politics of Monday, November 23, 2020

Source: Starr FM

2020-11-23

The opposition Democratic National Congress has appealed to Inspector General of Police James Oppong-Boanuh to ensure that police personnel who will provide security on Election Day are properly identified.

According to the party, such a measure will guarantee transparency and increase confidence in the electoral process.

“The attention of the NDC has been drawn to a circular issued by the Inspector General of Police to the effect that only traditional police uniforms would be worn on Election 2020 duties and related operations. According to the circular, the traditional uniforms for this purpose will be “blue-black / black and camouflage uniforms.”

“The NDC believes that these measures are derived from the lessons learned from the embarrassment suffered by the Ghana Police Service during the disgrace of the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-elections. Therefore, we congratulate the IGP and its staff for the plans developed by the National Electoral Security Working Group to clean up the security situation, maintain law and order on the day of the December 7 elections, and guarantee peace. However, the NDC is of the opinion that the announcement about the authorized uniform to be worn on D-Day will be inappropriate without ensuring that all police personnel and others drawn from other security agencies are properly identified with their names clearly visible on their uniforms. . ”Said a statement signed by the party’s chief operating officer, Lt. Col. (Rtd) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey.

He added: “This normal dress requirement for all service personnel should be strictly enforced to allay fears that some police uniforms that are being sewn will end up in the hands of vigilantes / thugs recruited by the ruling party / government to intimidate and repress. to the strong opposition voters. Indeed, the NDC takes information circulating seriously that individuals other than bona fide police officers, some of whom were described as Homeland Security agents who committed acts of banditry during the Ayawaso West by-elections Wuogon last year, they will be dressed in police uniforms to avoid detection.

“Our argument is that wearing a dog tag is the safest way to safeguard the integrity and image of the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies that will be deployed for security activities on Election Day.”