Koforidua, Nov. 13, GNA – Police Superintendent John Naami, Chairman of New Juaben Municipal Election Task Force, has cautioned police personnel to guard against actions that could create panic and problems at polling centres on December 7.
He said excesses of the police in the course of their duties could create problems to mar a peaceful atmosphere in contrast to their fundamental duties of maintaining peace to create conducive atmosphere for the electorate to vote without any fear or intimidation. Speaking at a seminar organized by the task force to educate personnel of Police Training School at Koforidua on their role during the elections, he reminded the police that they had no responsibility over the voting process at the polling centres other than maintaining peace and order.
Police Superintendent Naami said police duties on Election Day included escorting of ballot materials to protect them from being tampered with, ensuring order and carrying out other lawful instructions from Presiding Officers at the polling centres.
He gave the assurance that the task force had instituted measures to ensure security personnel deployed to the various polling centres were provided with logistics and other facilities such as vehicles to enable them carry out their duties without any hindrance. Ms Lydia Egyiri, New Juaben Municipal Director of Electoral Commission (EC), said security officers were not supposed to take part in the administration of the election but only to provide protection of the ballot materials and maintaining order.
She said security personnel were not to take part in the counting of ballot papers or assisting someone to vote adding that those responsibilities rested with the presiding officers in charge of the various polling centres.
