The Ghana Police Service on Monday April 17, 2023, engaged the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) to discuss recent developments on the political front. The NPP was represented by Justin Kodua Frimpong ESQ, General Secretary and Henry Nana Boakye ESQ, National Organizer. Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, National Chairman; Mr. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary; and Sammy Gyamfi, also represented the NDC.
In a brief introductory address, Mr. George Akufo Dampare, Inspector General of Police, revealed that the meeting was to officially brief both parties on some petitions that were recently received by the Police which demanded amongst others, the arrest of some notable politicians on alleged statements made by such individuals that according to the petitioners, threaten the peace and security of the country. He assured both parties of the determination of the Police to serve as impartial referees in enforcing law and order.
The Police also briefed both parties on some initiatives it has implemented under the Police Transformation Agenda to guarantee a secure environment for all elections. Paramount amongst such interventions was the constitution of a Permanent National Elections Security Taskforce Secretariat (NEST) to supervise and coordinate all elections-related security issues.
Another major initiative outlined by the Police was the establishment of a Legal Unit to probe all politically related incidents and determine any breach of legality and whether arrests and prosecutions can be made.
The Police indicated that the legal unit scrutinises every politically controversial statement to ascertain if it meets the criminal threshold of the law before effecting an arrest. The police further noted that statements of Former President John Mahama, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah, and Hon. Bryan Acheampong had all failed the criminal threshold test. However, the statements by the Suame NDC Youth organiser were patently criminal and breached the laws of the Republic hence his arrest and prosecution.
The Police subsequently briefed both parties on its investigations into some election-related incidents in constituencies such as Odododiodio, Ablekuma Central, Savelugu, Techiman South, Banda, Awutu Senya, Asawase and Manso Adubia during the 2020 general elections and the internal elections of both parties in 2022.
The Inspector General of Police thanked both parties for honoring the invitation and pleaded with them to support the Police in its efforts to enforce law and order; and refrain from the habit of inciting the public against the Police.
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