Police identify 631 polling stations as flashpoints in Volta Region

The Deputy Volta Regional Operations Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Isaac Baah, has disclosed that his outfit had identified 631 polling stations in the 18 constituencies as flashpoints.

He said investigations were ongoing to find out peculiar problems in those areas, to enable the police to strategise more effectively to deal with any situation on the day of elections.

Superintendent Baah gave the assurance that the police, in collaboration with the other security agencies, were fully prepared to maintain law and order during the day of the elections.

Mr Baah disclosed this at Crime Reporting Training programme for media personnel in the Volta Region at Ho.

The training programme was organised by the Regional Police Command and was aimed at improving the skills of media practitioners on crime reporting, and equip them educate the public on matters relating to crime.

Superintendent Baah said the Volta Regional Police Command had declared zero tolerance to violence during the 2020 general elections, hence, adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure that calm is maintained.

He indicated that apart from the security personnel detailed at the various polling stations, patrol teams at divisional and regional levels would be deployed on the day of the elections and after to ensure regular patrols in the various constituencies to ensure quick interventions where violent situations would occur.

He also stated that as part of efforts to ensure peace during and after the elections, the Regional Police Command had drawn up a programme to meet Christian religious leaders, as well as Islamic religious leaders, to dialogue with them on the need to help educate the public.

Mr Baah cautioned the media to avoid exaggeration in their reportage during the period of voting and after, in order not to create fear and panic situations in the region, since their role on that day is very crucial to the outcome of the elections.

The Volta Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Brown Mercy Wilson, advised the media to be mindful of the law in the discharge of their constitutional mandate.

Superintendent Wilson urged the media to avoid being politically biased, since it might destroy the peace in the country.

The Ho Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission (EC), Nana Odro Numapew, charged the media to be well equipped in electoral laws, and the general laws of the country to enable them to discharge their duties most importantly on the day of the elections and thereafter.

He appealed to the media to exhibit high professional conduct during and after the elections, and not prejudge the outcome of the election.

He stressed the need for the media to collaborate with the EC officials at the various polling stations to ensure uniformity in the figures they would churn out.

The Volta Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Ken Kponor, asked media practitioners to consider the general interest of the country in the discharge of their duties, and uphold and defend the constitution at all times, and not do anything to disintegrate the country.

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